I’m no coffee drinker but Madge Café inside the Lapaz Public Market is a temptation that always renders me helpless. It’s the blog lure of their native coffee prepared as it was more than 50 years ago, that makes me always to stop by whenever I find myself in the market. A cup of coffee costs PhP25 and still uses the same prewar recipe concocted by Vicente de la Cruz. Ownership then has been passed on to many generations and now; Peter is the one who manages the café. Named after Vicente’s wife, Magdalena nicknamed Madge, the café is a melting pot this side of town. There you’ll find government officials brushing with the ordinary folks, celebrities enjoying coffee as students and fans look on. Proudly displayed on the walls are memorabilia from photos of their VIPs guests to features in newspapers and magazines – a testament of how this little coffee shop has developed a “Pride of Place”. The coffee shop exudes a calming ambience even during rush hour. It ...