2025 wrapped: how we lived, ate, dressed, and connected

From the historic arrival of the Michelin Guide to Gen Z’s financial priorities and a resurgence of retro culture, 2025 in the Philippines was defined by impactful shifts in how we live, eat, dress, and connect.

As 2025 is coming to an end, radar’s Lifestyle team—Aurelio, Nikko, Gel, Trixia, and Rei—look back on a year of milestones and trends that shaped how we live, eat, dress, and connect.

From the Philippines’ first Michelin stars and the words that defined the year to Gen Z’s shifting priorities, mindful living, and retro-inspired creativity, here’s a snapshot of the people, ideas, and innovations that made 2025 memorable—and a glimpse of what lies ahead in 2026.

Culinary milestones: the Michelin Guide arrives in the Philippines

This year, the Philippines received its first-ever visit from The Michelin Guide, long considered the highest distinction in the culinary world. It’s a long-overdue recognition for a country whose cuisine has been steadily gaining global attention.

Selection began in February across Metro Manila, Pampanga, Tagaytay, Cavite, and Cebu—collectively known as “Manila and Environs & Cebu”—with the inaugural awarding ceremony held on Oct. 30.

In total, 108 Filipino restaurants earned recognition: 74 were named Michelin Selected, 25 received Bib Gourmand honors, and 10 were awarded the coveted Michelin stars. Nine earned one star, while Helm by Josh Boutwood was the only two-star recipient. radar featured Boutwood its launch day on Oct. 15 ahead of the historic announcement.

The Words that defined 2025

With 2025 ending, major dictionaries have announced the words that captured the spirit of the year.

Oxford Dictionary chose “rage bait“; Macquarie Dictionary, “AI slop“; Cambridge Dictionary, “parasocial“; Collins Dictionary, “vibe coding“; Dictionary.com, “67“; and Merriam-Webster Dictionary, “slop.” Such picks capture the year’s obsessions: AI, online overload, and social media trends.

radar, for its part, has its own Word of the Year in “organic encounter,” offering a snapshot of 2025 alongside the lexical authorities’ views in the context of the digital age.

Gen Z priorities: financial security over luxury

Last August, survey firm WR Numero partnered with online publication PhilSTAR L!fe for a research project exploring the hopes and anxieties of Filipino Gen Z amid the country’s sociopolitical and economic challenges.

The study, Filipino Perspective Digest: Hangad ng Kabataang Pilipino, found that Pinoy Gen Z prioritize financial security over luxury. Stability, steady employment, and the ability to support family members ranked higher than travel or further education. Many respondents expressed willingness to become breadwinners early, even as they acknowledged that hard work alone may not guarantee a secure future.

Caught between cautious optimism and pragmatic idealism, Gen Z wants competent and accountable leaders. They’re also aware how inequality, poor governance, and a fragile economy shape their prospects. 

The research relied on focus group discussions among 46 respondents aged 18 to 25 hailing from diverse socio-economic backgrounds, gender identities, and geographic regions.

Reclaiming connection: Gen Z uninstalls dating apps

Filipino Gen Z finally began uninstalling dating apps, following years of “swipe fatigue” and window-shopping profiles. As 2026 approaches, many are opting for real, face-to-face connections.

Gen Z are turning to safe spaces, like the queer-community-led The Sunny Club, to meet partners and friends while also helping with self-discovery and breaking down narrow identity stereotypes.

In a delicious irony, it is the digital natives who are reclaiming the spark found only in the ancient art of showing up.

Mental health awareness: the Werther and Papageno effects

The year saw losses of different kinds, from the passing of public figures to changes in old practices. Alongside its readers, radar confronted difficult conversations around mental health and media responsibility.

One key concept was the Werther effect, where publicized suicide cases can unintentionally lead to similar incidents. In contrast, responsible reporting fosters the Papageno effect; stories that emphasize hope, recovery, and support, helping reduce suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

Through journalism grounded in urgency and empathy, media can play a critical role in protecting vulnerable audiences. As the year ends, this approach offers a path forward toward more compassionate mental health coverage.

Filipinas redefine fitness: beyond the gym

The familiar “New Year, New Me” rush is evolving in the Philippines. Fitness resolutions now extend beyond gym sessions to include home workouts, running communities on Strava, and gentler forms of movement.

In particular, Pilates and yoga have gained popularity among women, especially for their benefits in managing Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. They help reduce cortisol levels and improve insulin sensitivity without putting too much strain on the body. 

By prioritizing internal balance and “clean living” over rapid aesthetic change, more Filipinas are entering 2026 with a renewed commitment to listening to their bodies better.

The color of calm and chaos: Pantone’s ‘Cloud Dancer’

Pantone, the self-styled global authority on color, named “Cloud Dancer” its Color of the Year for 2026. A “billowy white imbued with a feeling of serenity,” it “serves as a symbol of calming influence in a frenetic society rediscovering the value of measured consideration and quiet reflection.”

The choice wasn’t without criticism, though. Some commentators, particularly in United States media, called it a “Pantonedeaf” moment.

Still, Cloud Dancer has its supporters. Luxury stylist Oriona Robb told BBC the color was a decision about intention. Filipino interior designer Jeizele Reyes Go told radar the color can work as a backdrop to different tonal values, making it adaptable for homes and spaces in 2026.

Fashion forward: Gen Z embraces ‘serotonin dressing’ and ukay-ukay

As 2026 approaches, Filipino Gen Z continue reshaping fashion through bold, experimental choices that challenge traditional norms. Through “serotonin dressing,” they mix and match clothes and accessories to create vibrant, gender-fluid looks that go beyond fixed labels.

They combine this creative freedom with a growing awareness of sustainability. Many turn to ukay-ukay for versatile pieces that survive repeated wear and reuse, rejecting the wasteful cycle brought about by fast fashion.

Evolving parenting styles: gentle and trauma-Informed

Early this year, gentle parenting—a parenting style focusing on understanding, boundaries, and connection rather than punishment—made headlines and sparked conversation in many households.

The approach contrasts sharply with my-way-or-the-highway parenting, which demands strict obedience under threat of punishment, and behavior-based parenting, which focuses on skill-building through reinforcement and discipline.

Another parenting style gaining attention is trauma-informed parenting. According to Everyday Parenting Psychology—a US-based practice with a focus on parenting, child development, and maternal mental health—this focuses on breaking generational cycles (cycle-breaking) that no longer support a child’s development. It emphasizes emotional safety, connection, and awareness, encouraging parents to become responsive rather than reactive.

Rosy retrospection: revisiting the “good ol’ days”

The new year may be arriving soon, but many individuals still find themselves longing for the “good ol’ days,” times remembered as simpler and more colorful.

But are they? It could be a case of rosy retrospection, a cognitive bias where people recall positive memories while filtering out the difficulties of the past. As a result, the present may seem more chaotic and more problematic.

Rosy retrospection, however, isn’t detrimental by any means. Revisiting old memories—both joyful and sad—highlights growth and continuity, reminding everybody that progress often becomes clearer only in hindsight.

The retro camera resurgence: Gen Z reclaims photography

The fondness of Filipino Gen Z for reviving retro trends extends to photography. They prefer authentic moments to perfection and filters, which have become so common due to the dawn of AI.

The “poor quality” photography produced by a point-and-shoot digital camera is precisely what makes it appealing. In fact, this year saw the release of the Kodak Charmera, a 5-megapixel keychain camera, which quickly went viral for its lo-fi aesthetic.

Some professional photographers, too, are returning to using analog cameras. They relearn the intricacies of shooting through film and getting it processed in photo labs, valuing procedure over immediacy.

Street and nature photography on the rise

As interest in retro cameras grows, so does street and nature photography. Urban spaces like Quiapo continue to draw photographers for its everyday stories.

Beyond Metro Manila, destinations like Siquijor offer striking natural beauty, from white-sand beaches and turquoise waters to sunrises framed by trees, heritage structures, and tradition. Despite its eerie reputation, the island remains a sight for sore eyes.

 

 

As 2025 concludes, radar Lifestyle reflects on a year of cultural milestones: the Philippines’ first Michelin stars, new dictionary words reflecting digital obsessions, Gen Z’s pragmatic shifts, and a widespread embrace of mindful living and retro aesthetics.

 

 

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