David Pardo Ayala moved to Manila with knives, cookbooks & a heart full of love

While at the Culinary Institute of America in upstate New York over two decades ago, Colombian-born David Pardo Ayala met the love of his life, a Filipina named Gianella.

“I left everything behind to follow her here, and moved to Manila with nothing but my knives, my cookbooks, and the bold recklessness of youth,” David, now general manager of Discovery Primea, recalls. David and Gianella have a daughter, Sofia.

Love brought him to these shores and love made—makes—him stay.

“When I followed my heart to Manila over two decades ago, I brought that same sense of warmth and energy with me. Now, I proudly say I’m a Colombian-Filipino at heart. My Latin roots blend seamlessly with Filipino hospitality, making me feel right at home here,” he shares.

How is Filipino hospitality unique?

“Filipino hospitality is genuinely heartfelt: you walk in and you’re greeted with a smile that’s immediately warm and real,” he continues. As hosts, they go above and beyond to ensure comfort and connection; as guests, they bring the same warmth and curiosity to every new experience. It’s this sincerity that makes the Philippines truly unique.”

Looking back at his first few years in the Philippines, David, who virtually started cooking as soon as he started walking, says, “I immediately connected with local flavors and felt very much at home. The world-famous warmth and hospitality of Filipinos captured me from Day One.”

Before he became “Colombian-Filipino” at heart, David was the youngest winner ever of his country’s national culinary contest, the Nestlé “Toca de Oro,” in the ‘90s.

“I grew up in Bogotá, and back home everything revolved around family and good food,” he shares. “From a young age, I was in love with the sights, sounds, and smells of a busy kitchen. Both my mother and my lola were very accomplished cooks, and I enjoyed spending my school vacations helping in the kitchen to earn a few pesos that my mom gave me as reward. In Bogotá, cooking for friends and family was a way to show care, and I got hooked on that feeling of bringing people together. Studying French techniques in New York sharpened my skills, but that joyful, communal spirit from back home still drives everything I do.”

When he moved to New York from Bogota to attend the Culinary Institute of America, David went on to work at some of the city’s leading restaurants, such as Bouley, Le Bernardin and Lespinasse. His palate was also defined by his time working with legendary New York chefs such as David Bouley, Eric Ripert and Gray Kunz.

Then, love happened.

Discovering Manila

In 1997, he relocated to the Philippines and opened the renowned Soleil Restaurant.

From 2005 to 2012, David was the corporate chef of the Discovery hotel group. In 2010, three of the Discovery Group’s outlets were listed in the Miele Guide as among the top restaurants in the Asia-Pacific region.

David, who completed the general manager’s program at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, became the resident manager of Discovery Suites in January 2012, and in August 2013, he was appointed general manager of Discovery Primea. Under his leadership, Discovery Primea received the prestigious Asia’s Leading Business Hotel award at the 2024 World Travel Awards and multiple honors at the 2024 Haute Grandeur Global Hotel Awards.

David, who speaks fluent English and Spanish, has also been awarded Best General Manager in the Philippines at the 2024 Haute Grandeur Global Hotel Awards.

“Stepping into a general manager role let me shape the entire guest experience, not just what happens inside the kitchen. It also gave me the opportunity to grow and lead within the Discovery Hospitality Group, taking on broader responsibilities while keeping my roots firmly planted in the culinary world. My heart never really left the kitchen—I still love collaborating with our chefs, jumping in on menu tastings, and sharing creative tweaks that make each dish shine,” admits David, who personally oversaw a recent lunch that I attended at the Flame in Discovery Primea, alongside the talented executive chef, Luis Chikiamko.

One of his most cherished memories in Discovery Primea is of Colombian chefs visiting Flame, “giving our guests a real taste of my homeland.”

“Seeing Filipinos enjoy these flavors for the first time felt like bridging two worlds close to my heart,” says David.

Discovery Primea is celebrating its 10th year this year.

“I see us continuing to grow in a way that respects our roots and our environment,” David says. “We will deepen our commitment to sustainability and eco-friendly practices while further strengthening our community engagement.”