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The first question we asked seven FilipinoFilipinoThe national language of the Philippines, widely used for communication, education, media, and culture.Go to Filipino Glossary men before stepping into their homes was simple: Should we take our shoes off or keep them on? Some asked us to leave them by the door. Others waved us straight in. We understood both answers. In many Asian cultures, the Philippines included, removing your shoes before entering someone’s home is a sign of respect—not only for the host’s house rules and housekeeping efforts, but also for the space where they eat, sleep, and walk barefoot. Today, however, the custom is observed differently from one home to another.
That question turned out to be the only thing these homes had in common. Beyond each front door was a distinct way of living. Our subjects come from different worlds—fashion, art, design, food, and publishing—and their homes reflect those worlds. Their personalities, quirks, and tastes reveal themselves in every carefully chosen object, from the artwork on their walls to the furniture they live with every day.
Through these intimate portraits, we discover there is no singular blueprint for the modern Filipino man. Shoes on or shoes off was merely the first answer. Everything beyond the front door tells the real story.
Nix Alañon, 43
Creative Director/Founder, Phoenix Home
Makati City, Philippines
GQ Philippines: First things first: Shoes off or shoes on?
Nix Alañon: Shoes on. We don’t walk around barefoot anyway so it’s fine.
How would you describe the aesthetic and personality of your home?
It’s a reflection of the things I love and of my creative life. Where raw and polished, old and new, come together in quiet harmony.
What is your favorite thing about your home?
My favorite thing about our home is that it’s always evolving. It’s a growing collection of art, furniture, and objects that my partner and I love, or have picked up on our travels, along with other details that make it feel alive.
What do you love doing most at home? Describe your perfect day in your space.
My perfect day at home is an unhurried one. In this fast-paced world, it’s my personal sanctuary where I can recharge, collect my thoughts, and reconnect with myself, my pets, and the people I love.
Dom Canlas, 28
Founder, The Sixth Sense
Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines
GQ Philippines: First things first: Shoes off or shoes on?
Dom Canlas: Shoes off.
How would you describe the aesthetic and personality of your home?
My home feels warm and lived in, filled with objects that are a lot older than me. Japanese design has been a strong influence in many of the things I do, so of course the space is built around natural materials, honest craftsmanship, and timeless design.
What is your favourite thing about your home?
I’m a collector at heart, so I tend to hold onto more than I let go of. I love that my home feels like a living archive, where nearly every object carries a story or preserves a memory that becomes more meaningful with time.
What do you love doing most at home? Describe your perfect day in your space.
A perfect day at home feels like a filler episode of a TV series where there’s no real agenda. It’s just me doing one thing to the next, having a snack or two, probably taking a late afternoon nap and just enjoying the quiet.
Omar Quiambao, 53
Co-Founder, Commonwealth
Design Director, Honor the Gift
Fullerton, California, USA
GQ Philippines: First things first: Shoes off or shoes on?
Omar Quiambao: Always shoes off. It keeps the home feeling clean and comfortable, and honestly, it’s just how I grew up.
How would you describe the aesthetic and personality of your home?
Our home is warm, personal, and lived-in, with a mix of art, books, design objects, toys, plants, and pieces that tell the story of our family. It is not overly polished, but it’s honest to how we live, work, create, and spend time together.
What is your favorite thing about your home?
My favorite thing is the feeling of light and openness in the main living space. It gives the home a calm energy, but still leaves room for everyday life, whether that means working, playing with the kids, reading, or just being together.
What do you love doing most at home? Describe your perfect day in your space.
I love the simple moments most: coffee in the morning, music playing, the kids moving around the house, books and work spread out, and time to train or recharge in between. A perfect day at home feels easy, productive, and full of small family moments.
Nicco Santos, 42
Chef, Celera
Taguig City, Philippines
GQ Philippines: First things first: Shoes off or shoes on?
Nicco Santos: Shoes off. But inside the apartment, not outside the door.
How would you describe the aesthetic and personality of your home?
I’d describe it as understated and minimalist, with subtle Filipino and Nordic influences. It’s a space built around simplicity, natural materials, and warmth rather than excess. I wanted it to feel calm and lived-in, a place that encourages slowing down after the pace and intensity of the restaurant.
What is your favorite thing about your home?
The living room is where I naturally gravitate. It’s where I spend most of my time with my son, whether we’re watching movies or playing video games together. Late at night, after everyone has gone to bed, it also becomes my thinking space. It’s often there that ideas for new dishes begin to take shape, so it holds both some of my favorite family moments and some of my most creative ones.
What do you love doing most at home? Describe your perfect day in your space.
My perfect day starts with pulling a really good shot of espresso and making a simple breakfast of eggs. From there, it’s about slowing down, putting my feet up on the couch while my son gets lost in his favorite video game, and enjoying the quiet rhythm of home. After spending so much of my life in a busy kitchen, those simple moments are what I value most.
Mark Nicdao, 47
Photographer
Makati City, Philippines
GQ Philippines: First things first: Shoes off or shoes on?
Mark Nicdao: “Defends.”
How would you describe the aesthetic and personality of your home?
It’s a dark, yet light-filled cozy loft. Esoteric, yet a very welcoming place to chill and hangout.
What is your favorite thing about your home?
My cats who live with me, and the light that comes through the windows that contrasts the design elements of the place.
What do you love doing most at home? Describe your perfect day in your space.
Chilling late afternoons at the balcony, doing some projects, and the super cozy night time in bed before sleeping, and my pets running around the loft without destroying anything.
Kelvin Morales, 30
Creative Director and CEO
Manila City, Philippines
GQ Philippines: First things first: Shoes off or shoes on?
Kelvin Morales: Usually, shoes on. But if it’s my personal bedroom, shoes off.
How would you describe the aesthetic and personality of your home?
My home has a warm, modern Japanese aesthetic. I love the light wood tones that complement my blue furniture, and I enjoy being surrounded by books and art.
What is your favorite thing about your home?
It’s very calm and zen. The first thing people notice is the scent. I use palo santo and incense every day because fragrance is important to me. I also love sketching with fountain pens because I enjoy the feel of holding them and the precision of their pointed nibs. One piece that reminds me of my brand’s core aesthetic is The Soaked Score Chair by Brian Ver, a local furniture designer, with its faded blue painted finish. I also enjoy collecting meaningful objects and design books, so every piece in my home has a purpose and contributes to its quiet, creative energy.
What do you love doing most at home? Describe your perfect day in your space.
I usually play vinyl records or music while working and sketching at my desk. I avoid watching TV or the news because I like to protect my peace and energy, and I easily absorb the emotions around me. My perfect day starts with a slow Sunday sunrise, drinking espresso while listening to classical music, especially “Song on the Beach” by Arcade Fire. Those quiet mornings are my vibe.
Raymond Ang, 38
Director of Editorial Operations, GQ Magazine
Brooklyn, New York, USA
GQ Philippine: First things first: Shoes off or shoes on?
Raymond Ang: Definitely off!
How would you describe the aesthetic and personality of your home?
Something borrowed. This is a rental in a post-war building.
What is your favorite thing about your home?
All the physical media I live with. In a time when our feeds are polluted with slop, it’s nice to be able to listen to a CD or watch a film on Blu- Ray and tune all of that out.
What do you love doing most at home? Describe your perfect day in your space.
Unfortunately, it’s vegging out with a bag of Jalapeño Cheetos and a classic screwball comedy.
A version of this story appears in the September 2026 issue with the title “Shoes On or Shoes Off”
Frequently Asked Questions
No. In many Asian cultures, including the Philippines, removing your shoes before entering a home is a sign of respect, but the practice varies from one household to another.
It is a sign of respect for the host’s house rules, housekeeping efforts, and the cleanliness of the space.
Mark Nicdao is a celebrated photographer and artist based in Makati City, Philippines.
Nix Alañon is a creative director and the founder of Phoenix Home, based in Makati City, Philippines.
Raymond Ang, GQ Magazine’s Director of Editorial Operations, lives in a Brooklyn rental filled with physical media, valuing CDs and Blu-rays as a deliberate escape from algorithm-driven digital feeds.
