Our Stories
“It is only when we have plenty to eat—plenty of everything—that we begin to understand what freedom means. To us, freedom is not an intangible thing. When we have enough to eat, then we are healthy enough to enjoy what we eat. Then we have the time and ability to read and think and discuss things. Then we are not merely living but also becoming a creative part of life.” - CarlosBulosan
Amber & Aaron sitting at the Chef’s Counter. Photographer: Charity Burggraaf
We began this journey in May of 2016 with the trademark of our “identity.” We then traveled to the Philippines to explore the land of our ancestry, and though we found the islands make up a part of who we are—they did not define us fully.
In the US they call us Filipino, in the Philippines, they call us American. We exist in this in-between of identities, always looking one way or the other. But on this long journey, we learned that we are the product of our parents’ struggles. The product of our creative adventurous parents, who left the Philippines to expand and grow their islands—to create their own culture and identity in this Pacific Northwest land that we call home. Together, along with so many others, our experiences have shaped this region. We and the land are synonymous. We are here and now, we are Filipino Americans.
— Amber & Aaron
Amber Rosario Manuguid | the experience
Amber Manuguid | the experience
Amber is a Seattle-based artist and designer-restaurateur, focused on creating joyful and meaningful experiences. She studied at Parsons School of Design, later transferring to the University of Washington where she graduated with a degree in fine art with a focus in motion, storytelling, and Filipino American History. Amber went on to design experiences, earning her an Honorable Mention from Fast Company’s national Innovation By Design Awards, which honors “a commitment to solving problems, no matter how big or small, as simply and as beautifully as possible.”
Amber has been a vocal advocate of under-represented communities, with an emphasis on empowering Filipino Americans. As an active volunteer within Seattle's Filipino American community, using her professional skills and experience to encourage others to “dream big.”
At Archipelago, Amber is grateful to be able to merge her passions— family, art, history, and of course food— to nurture her community, her team, and her children. There, she carefully crafts moments in time, sharing beauty and creativity in an intimate immersive experience.
Aaron Verzosa | the food
Aaron Verzosa | the food
Aaron is a Filipino American chef born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. After graduating from the University of Washington, Aaron attended the Seattle Culinary Academy while working in the Basque focused Spanish restaurant, The Harvest Vine. In 2010, Aaron then joined Intellectual Venture’s Modernist Cuisine team lead by Nathan Myrvohld, working as an R&D Chef for over five years. During his time with Modernist Cuisine, Aaron had the opportunity to travel to Paris to stage with Michelin-starred chef, David Toutain, as a means to understand the Modernist approach through the lens of French gastronomy.
Aaron has been engaged in the Filipino American community for many years and has been able to focus his activism in the food industry as a founder of ILAW: A Coalition of Filipino Food & Beverage Professionals in the Pacific Northwest. Established in 2017, Aaron and his ILAW colleagues work to empower Filipino-owned food and beverage businesses by providing opportunities for collaboration and promotion of Filipino cuisine.
Through Archipelago, Aaron has been able to marry his love for the craft of cooking with the flavors of his Filipino roots.