Monday, December 15th, 2008

May 17-20 2008
Jacob K. Javits Convention Center New York City

A foreign observer once said that “Filipino’s almost by nature are artistic, given even the scantiest of resources a Filipino craftsman can turn even an egg shell into a design masterpiece!” a great compliment—and a norm in the Philippine furniture industry. The Philippine participation in the last International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) in New York yet again reinforced this statement.

The Philippine contingent–fuelled by the Department of Trade and Industry-Export Development Council’s (DTI-EDC) assistance and funding, engineered by the Chamber of Furniture Industries of the Philippines (CFIP) and manned by three internationally acclaimed design companies: Evolve Design, Maze Manufacturing and Lightworks Resources, encountered instances very much reflective of the above statement from the early stages of preparation until after Jacob K. Javits Convention Center shut its doors . At the onset the group was immediately faced with the challenges of designing a booth at par with, or better than, the other ICFF exhibitors, most of which are big companies (i.e. Herman Miller, Inc., Vitra, Inc., Domus, etc), major labels (Capellini, Natuzzi, Swarovski, etc.), prominent design institutions (Yale School of Architecture, New York School of Visual Arts, California College of Art, etc.) on a shoestring budget.

As daunting as it was, this challenge (first of a series) only strengthened the groups’ determination and drive to make the Philippine furniture industry’s debut in North America’s singular showcase for contemporary design a success, they are after all, representing not only their individual companies and the Chamber but the design capability of Philippine manufacturers

The delegation solicited awe, admiration and wonder throughout the event, managing to promote not just Philippine made furniture but also the Philippines—and Metro Manila traffic. The Philippine mini-pavilion generated Buyer and visitor traffic reminiscent of Manila’s arteries. Among those who visited the booth were a journalist from Brazil and an editorial staff of Oprah Living.

True to the spirit of Bayanihan, Consul General Cecilia B. Rebong of the Consulate General of the Philippines New York, Trade Representative Ms Josephine C. Romero and H.E. Libran N. Cabactulan, Abu Dhabi Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary with his wife Mrs. Remedios Fe Cabactulan extended their support, offered their assistance and expressed their admiration to the products and the people behind the products.

Aside from the CFIP group another Filipino made waves at the ICFF. Stanley Ruiz, a Brooklyn based Filipino designer and University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts alumnus was a featured designer at the ICFF Designboom Mart, a design bazaar featuring up and coming international designers organized by DesignBoom, the leading independent publication for key contemporary issues and the critique of all aspects of design, especially those topics which enrich the dialogue between design, creative professionals, industry and society.

The ICFF participation is part of the industry’s 2008 battle plan which aims to 1) raise the level of international awareness on the design capability of Philippine furniture manufacturers; 2) explore and open new and niche markets; 3) acquire new and emerging trends and materials innovation. Necessary steps into achieving our long term objectives of establishing prominence in the inelastic international design market and achieving design and production capability at par with the best in the world.

Consul General Cecilia B. Rebong of the Consulate General of the Philippines New York together with Abu Dhabi Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary H.E. Libran N. Cabactulan and Mrs. Remedios Fe Cabactulan visited the CFIP booth to show support, offer assistance and appreciate Philippine design

Brooklyn based Filipino Industrial Designer Stanley Ruiz was a featured designer at the Designboom mart, the design bazaar at the ICFF organized by Designboom the leading independent publication for key contemporary issues and the critique of all aspects of design, especially those topics which enrich the dialogue between design, creative professionals, industry and society.