Largest interior, lifestyle event opens at SMX

Philippines International Furniture Show exhibits the ingenuity of local manufacturers and designers.

The Philippines International Furniture Show (PIFS), held back-to-back with the Interior & Design Manila (I&DM), opened on Friday at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, in Pasay City.

A joint effort of the Chamber of Furniture Industries of the Philippines (CFIP), Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation (CFIF), Pampanga Furniture Industries Foundation (PFIF), and the Philippine Institute of Interior Designers (PIID), this three-day event features more than 200 furniture manufacturers and interior brands.

The main goal is to showcase these brands’ best offerings to interior designers, architects, developers, purchasers, top decision makers, business owners and the furniture enthusiasts visiting the show.

“We see PIFS as the ultimate collaboration of Filipino Collection. It is a trade event where manufacturers and designers show the world the ingenuity of our local manufacturers and designers, how we interpret the latest industry trends, and in many cases, take the lead in design innovation,” explained CFIP president Duke Zuluaga.

The joint opening ceremony was graced by other key industry players and government officials including Paulina Suaco-Juan, executive director of Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions; Arthur Lopez, president of the Philippine Hotel Owners Association Inc.; Eugene Yap, president of Hotel & Restaurant Association of the Philippines; Takashi Ishihara of the Japan External Trade Organization; Frederick Sibug president of the Philippine Institute of Architects; IDr. Lilia De Jesus, president of Philippine Institute of Interior Designers; Ina Gaston, event chair of Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation; Noli Nicanor, manager of international trade fairs and events management of the European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines; and Philip Repato, event chairman of Pampanga Furniture Industries Foundation; among others.

Design competitions

PIFS is also featuring the iDisenyo Design Competition, showcasing top furniture designs from interior design students and professionals. Also being held is the PIFS Design Awards for participating exhibitors.

Known as a one-stop shop for all lifestyle and interior needs, the Interior & Design Manila in partnership with PIID is once again holding the most anticipated two-day International Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Convention and Workshop, gathering prominent speakers around the world including IDr. Suzie Attiwill, IDr. Raquel Florendo, Pete Delantar, IDr. Debbie Palao, Engr. Anon Pairot, Arch. Andy Hall, Arch. Gerhard Bruyns, Arch. Joey Ho, and IDr. Wilhelmina Garcia.

With this year’s theme, “Design Forward: Future Spaces,” the conference focused more on the future of interior design.

I&DM is also offering PIID Gallery Talks, the expo’s newest segment featuring the exhibitors’ cutting-edge products and lectures from select speakers.

“The growing number of exhibitors and visitors of I&DM is a testament that this event is being seen by many as the primary source for top-of-the-line interior needs,” said PIID national president IDr. Lilia De Jesus. “We started as a small expo four years ago, and I am glad that we have come a long way! May this show of ours grow more so that we can help the Philippines’ design industry flourish.”

PIFS and the  I&DM are co-organized by the Global-Link Exhibitions Specialist Inc.

For more information, you may contact Global-Link at (02) 8937973 or visit the events official websites: www.gesi.com.ph/IDMNL and www.pifs.ph. You may also visit their Facebook pages: @IDMNL and @PIFSmanila, and Instagram: @interiordesign.mnl and @pifs_manila.

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Obra Cebuana is a world-class manufacturer of furniture and home accessories melding rich Visayan culture, artistry and heritage with finely-crafted transitional pieces.

Conceptualized and established in 1990, the family-owned enterprise emerged as a respected exporter in the Philippine furniture industry with pieces flaunted beyond borders, expanding its clientele from the artisan shores of Cebu to coastal properties in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Australia, South Africa and Asia.

Upon acquiring the company from the Arcenas family in December 2014, visionary young owners Justin and Selina Romualdez desired to preserve the legacy of Obra Cebuana by dedicating their expertise in strengthening Cebuano craftsmanship and ingenuity. Selina’s earlier involvement with her family’s Cebu-based furniture businesses, Stonesets International/Vito Selma, nurtured and refined her passion for the trade.

It is her goal to leave a distinct signature style in the industry together with her husband, Justin, through the designs that reflect their deeply rooted and enduring respect for the craft as well as the skilled hands behind it.

Each of Obra Cebuana’s pieces evokes the rustic soul of the Philippine islands through the delicate interplay of natural textures, patterns and contours interpreted into award-winning designs of contemporary elegance infused with old world charm.

Locally abundant and wholly renewable indigenous materials such as rattan are carefully hand-manipulated, woven and finished by generations of expert craftsmen skilled in the art of furniture-making Cebu is famous for.