March 8, 2019
I was a member of the board of directors of the Chamber of Furniture Industries of the Philippines. That was in the early 1990s. I served together with the top furniture exporters during that time, such as Nicky de Lange, Joseph Pangilinan, Myrna David-Natividad, Myrna Bituin, Ed Baluyut, Gigi Simbulan, etc.
I was not into furniture business but I was active in helping promote our country’s products. I attended several major international furniture and accessories fairs in Cologne and Frankfurt in Germany, Paris, New York, San Francisco, Singapore, HK, Kuala Lumpur, Taipei, India, Cebu, and Manila.
For a few years, I even organized the Exporter’s Fair that helped the exporters reach out to local buyers to augment their dwindling export orders due to China’s coming to life.
My visit to the recent Philippine International Furniture Fair brought back some good memories.
I actually went hoping to find something different or at least cute for my cottage house.
Rattan-looking but made of high quality plastic materials
Wrought iron bistro chairs
Gazebo by Hein Chrispijn Metamorfose, a manufacturer based in Cebu
By
Cebu-based Mehitabel Furniture is one of Cebu’s pioneers in high quality
rattan and wood furniture. Their designs have been featured in top design magazines in the US. Their fine craftsmanship competes with those made in Italy, France, and the US.
By JB Woodcraft
I entered the booth of Myna Bituin whose main factory and head office are in Pampanga, asking about the divider. I didn’t know that the pretty girl manning the booth recognized me. She’s Abby, the daughter of my good friend Gen. Benjamin “Jun” Kalalo, Jr. (+)
My friendship with Abby’s dad spanned 25 years. We were together in Sulu, Jolo. We even went to rebel-infested Patikul with the commander general at that time. They provided us with two battalions of soldiers carrying high powered firearms with bullets the size of jumbo hotdogs enough to invade a small country. I have never felt so safe in my whole life.
We went there to help promote their products hoping that whatever progress it would create could make the place more peaceful because the residents would be busy with the livelihood projects. It didn’t progress because the local government’s efforts were interrupted by the peace situation in the area.
The ambassador of Pakistan was a guest at the booth of Myrna Bituin. Abby introduced me to the foreign designer who’s based in Pampanga. I almost melted when she told him that I was one of the most popular women in the Philippines. Abby was still a teener when she first met me. As a young lady, she probably had a good impression of me and maybe her dad also had good words for me that’s why she perceived me as such. I miss her dad. He was such a good friend. Fearless as a marine soldier, but kind and gentle to friends. When I first approached him for a bodyguard, he immediately came to my office bringing with him his own guy, a battle-tested marine who was always alert and never left my side. He was assigned in Mindanao but his wife requested that he be reassigned in Manila kasi baka daw mabaril duon. Matapang pero dapain, minsan muntik na syang bumagsak sa akin. Ang laki-laki pa mandin nya. He stayed with us for many years and until now he never fails to greet us on our birthdays and Christmases.
Not sure if this long bench would blend in my cottage house decor. According to the artist / manufacturer, the wood was taken from a 300 year-old sunken ship. It was under the sea for centuries. Baka may libreng moomoo ito.
Bahala na where to put it. Basta upuan.
Much as I wanted to stay longer and hop from one booth to another to reconnect with old friends and acquaintances from the furniture business sector, I told my driver to pick me up at exactly 4 pm because I didn’t want to get stuck in four-hour traffic. No thanks, it’s friday.
