ALPHA is dedicated to figures who have shaped industries, built communities, and championed meaningful causes. In this edition, we do a quick-fire interview with Ana Lorenzana de Ocampo that reveals the woman beyond the restaurateur.
Lifestyle Asia introduces its June 2026 ALPHA, which turns a spotlight on changemakers whose enduring influence continues to redefine the good life with purpose, shaping culture and inspiring those around them. If we’re talking about the women who have left a lasting mark on the Philippine dining landscape, few names resonate as strongly as Ana Lorenzana de Ocampo. Over the past decade, she has become a driving force in the country’s restaurant scene through a growing portfolio of concepts that began with Wildflour Restaurant in 2012 and eventually evolved into a full-fledged hospitality group, home to celebrated eateries like George and Onnie’s, Osteria Antica, Farmacy Ice Cream and Soda Fountain, Pizza Sisters, Pink’s, Wildflour Pantry, Wildflour To-Go, and Kei Maki.
We sit down with the influential restaurateur and CEO to learn more about the woman behind the empire.
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What is your idea of the good life?
Ana: That everyone in my family is content and happy with the life they’ve built.
What is an overrated luxury?
Ana: Scale itself as a luxury—people that believe that having a bigger house and bigger car is inherently better.
What is on your nightstand?
Ana: A reading lamp and my Kindle (I’m currently reading Contagious by Jonah Berger).
What is a book everybody should read?
Ana: The Bible.
What is your favorite film?
Ana: Something’s Gotta Give. It’s a comfort watch!
What have you been listening to lately?
Ana: I’ve been looping a playlist I made of my favorite songs from the 80s to the present.
What is your current state of mind?
Ana: Focused. There’s a lot on my plate these days, but I’ve been tackling things one step at a time.
What ritual brings you joy?
Ana: My morning routine: I say a prayer, do a strength workout, chat with my family, and catch up with the team. It keeps me present, and always starts my day off on a good note.
What quality do you admire most in others?
Ana: Humility, and an openness to learning.
What is your pet peeve?
Ana: Rudeness to the waitstaff.
What skill do you wish to learn?
Ana: I’d love to learn a new language. Being able to effectively communicate with others, especially when I travel, would be so helpful.
What historical figure would you like to have dinner with and where?
Ana: Instead of an individual historical figure, I’d love to just have a meal with all of the women farmers that contribute to our restaurants. I have the utmost respect for them and would love to treat them to a good meal using the fruits of their labor.
What is your signature drink?
Ana: Hot chocolate. It’s comfort in a cup.
What is your most prized possession?
Ana: My kids.
What is your most treasured memory?
Ana: Having long conversations with my late father. We used to talk about everything, often reflecting on our past and discussing our goals and plans for the future.
What is your boldest decision?
Ana: It’s more like a series of decisions, but turning my love for baking from a hobby into a full-fledged restaurant business.
What is the most useless thought you have received?
Ana: “Wait for the perfect moment to start.” I believe you have to create your own moment. If you want to be a disruptor and challenge the status quo, creating that moment won’t be easy, but it will be worth it.
What is your greatest regret?
Ana: I wish I had spent more time with my kids when they were younger. In realizing that they’re never going to be that age again, I wish I had savored those moments with them even more.
What keeps you grounded?
Ana: My family and my close circle of friends. They’re my biggest supporters.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Ana: It comes with the job, but overindulging and eating way more than I probably should.
What trend should make a comeback?
Ana: Headbands!
What trend should stay in the past?
Ana: The big hair from the 80s.
What is your motto?
Ana: Keep moving forward.
How do you want to be remembered?
Ana: As someone that introduced delicious meals to everyone—meals that gave them comfort and joy no matter their current circumstances, brought them together with their loved ones.
What is next for you?
Ana: Releasing new concepts, opening new branches, and maybe even building a Wildflour beyond our shores!
Photography by Jharwin Castaneda assisted by Aljon Celis, published with permission from The Business Manual
Frequently Asked Questions
Ana Lorenzana de Ocampo is the CEO of Wildflour Hospitality Group and one of the most influential figures in the Philippine dining industry. She founded Wildflour Restaurant in 2012 and has since expanded the group to include concepts such as George and Onnie’s, Osteria Antica, Farmacy Ice Cream and Soda Fountain, Pizza Sisters, Pink’s, Wildflour Pantry, Wildflour To-Go, and Kei Maki.
Lifestyle Asia’s ALPHA is a feature dedicated to individuals who have shaped industries, built communities, and championed meaningful causes. It spotlights changemakers whose enduring influence continues to redefine the good life with purpose while inspiring those around them.
Ana believes in creating opportunities rather than waiting for them. She considers the advice to “wait for the perfect moment to start” to be unhelpful, emphasizing instead that meaningful change comes from creating your own moment and challenging the status quo.
Ana credits her family and close circle of friends for keeping her grounded. She also finds joy in a consistent morning routine that includes prayer, strength training, spending time with her family, and catching up with her team.
Ana hopes to be remembered as someone who introduced delicious meals that brought comfort and joy to people regardless of their circumstances, while creating moments that brought loved ones together around the table.
