Manila is an exciting, vibrant city in the Philippines. We had the chance to visit one of the best barbers in the world at his barber house. Lars is truly a one-of-a-kind barber. He calls his shop a barber house because he lives there too and it has the comfort of a home. His buddies were hanging out watching TV while we were there. The music was blasting ‘80s Westcoast hip-hop which matched his vibe and persona perfectly. He had a ton of pride in making sure it was perfect, constantly moving from side to side, measuring and adjusting. His humor and demeanor made the visit so much fun as we joked about American culture and got to know more about the Filipino ways. His love for his country and his neighborhood were passionate. Hardworking and creative, he represents the Filipino hustle-mentality well. And like all of the Filipinos we met, he was kind, thoughtful, and just cool as hell.
We spent two full weeks getting to know the Filipino way of life visiting Manila, Cebu, and Moalboal. We scootered around the islands having a blast diving off waterfalls, getting scuba certified, hanging out with monkeys, and soaking up the sun. We visited Manny Pacquiao’s training facility in Manila, watched the Super Bowl in a huge bar, and bet the games at one of their awesome casinos. I had no idea I would love the Philippines as much as I did and you will too. The people are amazingly kind, speak great English, and love basketball.
Barber Shop:
Lars Republic Barber House
2D Sulatan, Mandaluyong,
1550 Kalakhang Maynila, Philippines
https://www.instagram.com/larsrepublic/
https://www.facebook.com/larsrepublic/
Barber/Owner: Lars
Service: Full Treatment
Special Thanks:
MP Promotions and Elorde Boxing Gym
All rights for Manny Pacquiao photos are his through his Instagram account
Special Guest: Chuck Javit
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To understand why I love barber shops, the craft, the tradition, and why I decided to document my journeys around the world, please read my post that also describes why I think barber shops help build confidence, independence, and teach us how to be a gentleman. Read the full details in this blog post about World Barber Shop Adventures.
Video production support: Austin Trachsel
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