Regina Troy Barrios

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2 French in Manila

<p><strong>Nelson Jolivet</strong> and <strong>John Fisalbon</strong> arrived in Manila in 2017 as two French friends willing to explore the country through its restaurants and dining establishments. Almost immediately, they started <a href="https://www.instagram.com/2frenchinmanila/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>2 French in Manila</em></strong></a>, a food and travel vlog that would, over the course of nearly a decade, grow into a quietly influential presence. Over the next eight years, their vlog became more than a popular account with a loyal following: it was a rare, generous view of the local dining scene from the perspective of two foreigners who were friendly, open, and genuinely curious. They never claimed to be authorities, and that restraint, paradoxically, became their authority.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17677737678462.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">Jolivet and Fisalbon visiting Samal in Davao | Photo: 2 French in Manila</span></span></span></div><p>As a food editor, I was drawn to their blog for its charm and heartfelt storytelling. Their content unfolded through meals—street-side breakfasts, unpretentious lunches, late dinners shared with locals who weren’t there to be “featured,” but simply spending time with them. On Instagram—where food content so often feels transactional or performative—Nelson and John stood out by paying attention. Their curiosity never felt staged; it was patient and disarming. They invited viewers to slow down with them.</p><p>That is why their final post lands with a pang. In it, they explain their decision to stop:</p><p>“It&#x27;s true. This is the end for 2frenchinmanila. A new year. An ending. And maybe, new beginnings. Even us don&#x27;t know. 2 French In Manila started with curiosity, friendship, and a deep love for this country. Along the way, it became something bigger than us. It was never about food alone. It was about people, values, and moments that felt real. Over time, the world changed. So did we. We choose to close this chapter to remain aligned with what mattered to us from the start. Today, Nelson and I (John) choose to stop, not because the love is gone, but because staying true to it matters more. Thank you to everyone who shared a table with us, a story, a laugh, a moment. This chapter ends here, but what it gave us will stay. We will not delete this account… Merci pour tout.”</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTFMvSNDydH/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=1080&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A595918%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="1563" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@2FrenchinManila" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>2 French in Manila</strong></a> will remain online, a preserved digital scrapbook of meals, encounters, and a particular way of seeing the Philippines—with warmth and frank openness. You can still scroll through it, bookmarking places for future meals, and retrace favorite moments.</p><p>What I’ll miss most isn’t the recommendations, or even the food, but the reminder that good travel—and good eating—is about showing up with curiosity, listening more than you speak, and understanding that the most meaningful experiences happen when you pay attention. That was the quiet gift of 2 French in Manila. And long after the posts stop, that is what will stay.</p>

<p>After nearly a decade of exploring Manila’s dining scene with curiosity and warmth, travel vloggers Nelson Jolivet and John Fisalbon have signed off 2 French in Manila, leaving behind a legacy of meals, memories, and heartfelt storytelling.</p>

After nearly a decade of exploring Manila’s dining scene with curiosity and warmth, travel vloggers Nelson Jolivet and John Fisalbon have signed off 2 French in Manila, leaving behind a legacy of meals, memories, and heartfelt storytelling.

After Nearly A Decade, 2 French In Manila Signs Off. Why We Feel The Loss

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After Nearly A Decade, 2 French In Manila Signs Off. Why We Feel The Loss

Troy Barrios

Published Jan 06, 2026 04:25 PM PHT

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Updated Jan 07, 2026 04:26 PM PHT

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