Of freaks and frequencies
Tucked away on the fourth floor of an otherwise unassuming building in Legazpi Village is Freaquency, a buzzing new, contemporary art-forward lounge. With a panoramic 5×10 ft Bjorn Calleja drawing that evokes a dreamscape of the otherworldly and the offbeat, Freaq—a truncation that doubles as a nickname—feels less like a restaurant-bar and more like the lived-in studio of an artist in New York or Berlin.
At least, that is how a group of five food industry friends who visited the space during its launch week describe its energy and character.
Getting their Freaq on
Although featuring major art pieces in restaurants is nothing new—just as spaces that nurture food-and-art collaborations are increasingly becoming part of Manila’s gastronomy scene—what sets Freaq apart is its permeating vision and narrative, rooted in a desire to build an edgy yet soulful space where guests can tune in to a shared creative frequency.
“Begs, my husband, and I had a gallery before,” shares Pam Begre, restaurateur, sommelier, and co-founder of Freaq. “He has a penchant for being somewhat rebellious, for going against the grain. His creative language is that of building, while mine, as a sommelier, is about connecting with people through food and beverage.”
“I ideate; he builds. We lend a lot of ourselves to the spaces that we create, but we are never married to the properties that we occupy—so that more people can enjoy them. We put soul into every space we build,” she adds.
Here, artist Bjorn Calleja and Freaq co-founder Pam Bengre open up about their multidisciplinary collaborative process, the origin story behind Freaq, and what it means to take part in building a new contemporary art-forward community in Legazpi Village.
Freaquency feels like a space that is influenced not just by contemporary art but by Manila’s creative culture as a whole. What is your concept and motivation behind Freaquency?
Pam Begre [PB]: The name Freaquency came from the idea of being on the same frequency. Sometimes, it’s all about your frequency and perspective, pero casual lang.
I wanted a space where people can vibrate. The short form of Freaquency is Freaq. We are all freaks. I am such a f*cking freak.
What is it about Bjorn’s work that resonates with you the most as a restaurateur and as a creative yourself?
PB: When I look at Bjorn’s works, there is so much to discover. I stare for hours and just sit with them. You can get into an abyss while looking at his works, but this time, here at Freaq, with a layer of fun and drinks.
The vibe of Freaq, as my chef and artist friends said during the opening week, is like that of a lived-in studio space or an art collector’s pad in a cultural capital like New York. Do you resonate with this observation?
PB: Yes. Sakto. We have Parallel in Batangas. Bjorn’s works are also there. We wanted to share with others the feeling of being surrounded by his works. Hindi puwedeng kami lang ang nakaka-appreciate.
Bjorn Calleja [BC]: Freaq is a more relaxed space. It feels like a lived-in space na kalmado lang. Together with what they did with the design of Freaq—with the furniture and chairs—nagdadagdag ‘yung art sa frequency ng space.
You’re presenting one of your largest drawings, “Nobody Gets Me Like The Phonies,” here at Freaq. Can you share the story behind the work?
BC: This is a 2023 work; it’s 5×10 ft. When I heard about the name Freaquency, since I am a believer in Tesla’s “energy, frequency, and vibration” as a way to understand the universe, uy, sakto frequency. Tapos sabi nila, “Freaq for short,” so parang na-capture ng work na ito ‘yung idea behind Freaq.
PB: For the artworks at Freaq, I gave Bjorn full trust. I do not like interrupting an artist’s creative process. When his work arrived, I felt that his work was a good companion to me and to the space. It felt like his work had become a friend. It gave us so much life.
Makati is such a creative city, especially Legazpi and Salcedo, which are two of the most creative enclaves. Why did you choose to build Freaq in Legazpi?
PB: It is a creative space—not just within the four walls of Freaquency but also in the area of Legazpi. But in a more practical sense, when choosing spaces, I have a checklist. I like envisioning what could be good here. That’s how my husband and I date; that is our dynamic together. We love creating together.
We chose Legazpi because, this time last year, I felt it was time to build something new. I said to myself, dapat malapit sa Skyway, CBD, may parking, and most of all, an emerging sense of community. That’s how I feel about Legazpi. Dapat masaya ang neighbors, tapos may cool pa na creative spaces in the building: Mold and Studio Yakal.
We got a smaller space on the second floor, but then I realized I wanted a restaurant—something that I wanted to build after Celera. We just finished Parallel a few years back.
My husband is a builder; nangangati siya when wala siyang bini-build. So when the fourth floor emptied out, and no one wanted to get a fourth floor for whatever reason, I felt that the space spoke to me; the number four spoke to me. Even the tree spoke to me.
Hospitality means you have to be in tune. And being in tune is my form of healing.
As an artist, how important are spaces like Freaq, where artworks are taken out of the “white cube” and situated in more communal spaces where people can dine, build relationships, and be more human?
BC: It opens up a lot of opportunities for art to be seen by people who are not necessarily part of the art scene. It provides an opportunity to inspire and infuse people with a different kind of energy.
When people look at my works, they absorb my energy, which is why I have to be in tune as an artist.
What excites you about this new creative ecosystem you are helping build here in Legazpi?
BC: I am reminded of what chef Raph Dimarucut said about Freaq being an open space for community and collaboration, where food and cocktails are co-created by creatives within our community.
PB: I am inherently a connector. I am a sommelier by trade. Wine is my medium. It is through wine that I communicate. For Bjorn, it is through art. For you, it is through writing, photography, and art.
I connect and stay in tune through, but not limited to, wine and food. There was a working title aside from Freaquency, which was “Confluence.” I would love Freaq to be a space for confluence. When things click, that is how we create happiness.
Freaq is hosting a launch party featuring the works of Bjorn Calleja on Nov. 11, from 8 p.m. until late. In February 2027, Freaq will also present a solo exhibition of new works by ceramicist Jos Solon Perfecto. Follow @freaquency.mnl on Instagram for more details and updates
