The Giving Café opens 2nd branch in owner’s ancestral home

MANILA, Philippines – Maintaining its distinctly warm and relaxing ambiance, The Giving Café (TGC) has opened its second branch in an ancestral home. The refurbished personal space offers a comforting sense of home in Mandaluyong City, where tight living spaces in condominiums are the norm. Staying true to its mission, TGC fosters connections with every visit while continuing to support Filipino coffee farmers through its advocacy, #IndulgeInGiving.

TGC opened its second branch in 858a A. Mabini Street, Barangay Addition Hills, Mandaluyong City. It is the childhood home of owner Michael Harris Conlin, built by his grandfather Juan Bautista Lee.



The life of Conlin’s grandfather inspired the cafe’s vision of bringing people together. THE Giving Café’s second branch is an ancestral home built in the 1950s. Image from The Giving Café TGC is known for its first flagship location in Sheridan, which opened in 2017 and has supported the livelihood and needs of coffee farmers in La Trinidad, Benguet, and other farming communities.

Ancestral home transformed The second location of The Giving Café is a bungalow built in the 1950s. It is one of the many old homes still standing in Mandaluyong’s stately neighborhood. Conlin restored and repurposed his grandfather’s house into a full-service restaurant and events venue, where family heirlooms and portraits are kept and still displayed.

Its original architecture is untouched, while period furniture pieces were restored. Conlin decided to open a second branch after realizing that the funding from TGC Sheridan could only support a limited number of communities at a time, leaving many others still in need of help. THIS branch is designed as a space when one can feel at home.

Image from The Giving Café The decision to turn his grandfather’s ancestral home into the second branch was crystalized when his grandfather passed away in 2022. Conlin mentioned that he wanted to show his grandfather’s home for it was “filled with decades of memories.” The ancestral home played an important role in their family’s history and he wanted to preserve its soul and to keep its purpose — a haven for people to connect and create new memories with friends and loved ones.

Rooms and menus for every celebration Conlin said that the second branch serves as a place where condo-dwellers can feel at home. It has open gardens and large dining rooms, which are ideal for events and celebrations such as wedding receptions, family reunions, baby showers, and corporate events and parties. It has rooms designed for various occasions, making it a versatile venue.

TGC also offers a specially curated menu for specific occasions, matched to a specific room in the house. THE bestseller: Pancit Bihon. Rowz Fajardo/Rappler Just like in TGC Sheridan, the famous TGC specialty coffee is also offered in TGC A.

Mabini. A selection of Filipino-Chinese comfort food is also available, from traditional dishes like the lengua, TGC’s classic pancit, shanghai, lumpia, lomi, and champorado. The Angkong’s Room is designed for a working lunch or meeting setup.

It has big windows and a long dining table. THE Angkong’s Room is perfect for working lunch meetings. Image from The Giving Café The Working Lunch Meeting Set includes a variety of dishes.

Appetizers feature crispy wontons, while noodle lovers can enjoy pancit bihon. The beef option is Lengua con Champignon, complemented by sweet and sour chicken, salt and pepper pork, and crispy tofu for vegetarians. Beverages include unique flavors like hazelnut, butterscotch, mango madness, and blueberry jam.

To end the meal, affogato is served as dessert. SWEET and sour chicken from Angkong’s Room Menu. Rowz Fajardo/Rappler The Mom’s Room is ideal for Filipino afternoon coffee and tea gatherings.

The family’s antique tea cup sets adorn the place, with some even used for serving. THE Mom’s Room for afternoon coffee and tea gatherings. Image from The Giving Café The room also has big windows and wooden furniture, evoking a warm ambiance.

Conlin mentioned that as young girls, his mom and his sisters would play with imaginary tea sets, dreaming of experiencing real afternoon tea together, which later came true. Colin explained that this room is “for dreamers and families who appreciate life’s simple pleasures.” In Mom’s Room, the Pinoy Afternoon Coffee and Tea Set includes a sweet tier of mini turon rolls, bibingka, cheesecake bites, and mango tapioca.

The Filipino dessert tier in the middle plate features ginataang mais shots, mini champorado cups with crispy danggit, and ginataang bilo bilo cups. SWEET Filipino desserts and savory tiers from Mom’s Room. Rowz Fajardo/Rappler The savory tier on the bottom plate has mini pandesal sliders filled with adobo flakes and kesong puti, lumpiang sariwa wraps drizzled with peanut sauce, and bite-sized chicken marinated in calamansi, lemongrass, and annatto oil with a tangy dipping sauce.

Beverages include hot options such as tsokolate de batirol, Barako coffee, and salabat tea, as well as iced choices such as pandan lemongrass tea and Barako latte with muscovado syrup. The Baby Shower Room, from the name itself, is a room ideal for throwing baby showers. It gives off a sweet and bright vibe, with its pastel-colored designs, stuffed toys, and balloons.

CHEESE sticks, cupcakes, and sugar cookies from Baby Shower Room. Rowz Fajardo/Rappler Conlin shared that this room is a witness to many transitions as several relatives started new chapters of their lives in this very room. MENU for the Baby Shower Room and Celebration Nook.

Image from The Giving Café For the Baby Shower Room, the menu includes cheese sticks, cheesy bacon farfalle, and TGC wings. Desserts feature cupcakes and baby shower-themed sugar cookies, paired with TGC Timplado as the beverage. The Celebration Nook is designed for a Girl’s Night Out! Beside the stairs is a blue chandelier with a landscape painting, and a vintage blue floral sofa, perfect for chill wine nights.

THE Celebration Nook for wine nights. Image from The Giving Café This area pays tribute to Conlin’s mother’s cherished wine nights with her friends. The Celebration Nook is very inviting and calm, perfect for sitting and sharing stories with loved ones.

FRUIT platter and wine from the Girl’s Night Out Menu. Rowz Fajardo/Rappler For Girl’s Night Out, diners can enjoy beef salpicao, gambas, and a cheese and fruit platter. Desserts include egg tarts, accompanied by a variety of wines such as Taltarni, sparkling wine, T Series Shiraz, and T Series Sauvignon Blanc.

MENU for the Barkada Night and Buffet. Image from The Giving Café The Barkada Area has a billiard table at the center. Conlin shared this is where his uncles and aunts used to play billiards for hours of laughter and play.

Barkada Night offers riblets, TGC fries, and sausage bites with bacon cheese dip. Beverages include Negroni, Paloma, espresso martini, and beer towers for a lively gathering. THE Barkada Area with a billiards table.

Image from The Giving Café The Buffet Hall, which used to be the garage, is a gathering place perfect for reunions. The buffet spread features appetizers like garlic mushrooms, creamy spinach dip, cheese pimiento, and a bread basket. Main dishes include steamed rice, beef caldereta, and seafood with Cajun butter sauce, alongside broccoli with garlic for a vegetable option.

Beverages range from fruit-infused water to coffee options like americano, latte, cappuccino, and iced Timpladong Puti. “Food has the power of bringing people together to create new and lasting memories,” Conlin said. He shared that these homemade meals are prepared with love and care that honors their family’s culinary heritage.

The new TGC branch also has other spaces for study and work, perfect for co-working. Every nook and corner is photogenic, providing a picturesque setting for shoots, portraits, or casual snapshots. A legacy and tribute: Juan Bautista Lee, the inspiration behind the brand Juan Bautista Lee, Conlin’s grandfather and the owner of the ancestral home, is the inspiration behind the brand.

A famous water polo player who won in the 2nd Asian Games, Lee used to be a street vendor whosehard work and perseverance allowed him to provide a comfortable and a privileged life for his family. “He was generous in supporting the welfare of Filipino and Filipino-Chinese communities,” Conlin shared. Conlin added that his grandfather taught them to be humble, kind, and to never forget to give back.

“His motto was to always be kind. Kindness is free,” he said. This motto remains the guiding principle of TGC.

The brand stands as a tribute to his life and values. Each cup served by the brand contributes to the livelihoods of Filipino coffee farmers to ensure a sustainable coffee supply chain. TGC works with the Foundation for Sustainable Coffee Excellence where they help uplift farming communities through funding educational assistance, holding seminars to train farmers on sustainable farming practices, and providing access to basic health care.

TGC works closely with farmers which helps improve both the quality and quantity of their coffee production, ensuring that they receive fair compensation. Conlin shared that in TGC, they measure success through the connections they create and the kindness they give. As a brand, they hope that every visit feels like coming home — a place where you are welcomed, where stories are shared, and where the heart of coffee culture can thrive.

– Rappler.com The Giving Café A. Mabini is open from Tuesdays to Sundays from 10 am to 8 pm.

The Giving Café Sheridan is open from Monday to Sunday from 7 am to 10 pm. Rowz Fajardo is a Rappler intern studying Doctor of Medicine at the University of Philippines Manila..