Celebrating Design

Does anyone still wear a hat? I think so, yes. For Manila FAME October 2012, I did a collection of fascinators made of Abaca from Catanduanes. I got inspired by surf waves and twigs you find on the beach of the island province. Many thanks to the Duchess of Cambridge, Manila denizens Tessa Valdes and Mich Dulce, there's a new romance with the chapeau and a new romantic mood in the city.

I'm loving Manila's new design energy. I'll drink to that!

Air conditioned Jeepney shuttle!

The SMX Convention Center

Fabulous neckpiece from Arnel Papa.

Rings from Joyce Makitalo

Adante Leyesa clutch.

Binky Ilusorio's Larabee necklaces.

Fringed clutch by Dennis Lustico.

Patrice Ramos-Diaz's neck wear.

Oj Hofer's 'blouse of beads'.

Maco Custodio

My Abaca fascinators by The Loom of Catanduanes.

With Ms. Lumen Teves of The Loom

Proclamation No. 277 declares every third week of March and October annually as the celebration of Design Week Philippines. Signed by President Benigno Aquino III on 20 October 2011, this week-long celebration will feature a range of design-centric activities which include the bi-annual Manila FAME, Creative Environment, Museum and Art Tours, KATHA Awards, Design Talks and Fora, and Food and Arts Festival.

Manila FAME is a signature event of the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM).

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The House Of Dr. Luis Santos

Our tour of Malolos continues, from the Cojuangco ancestral house http://myrefrigeratordoor.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-cojuangco-ancestral-house.html , our gracious host Melecio Cojuangco brought us to the house of Dr. Luis Santos. Mel arranged the visit with one of the heirs of Dr. Santos, George Imperial . From the outside, one would already be in awe of the sheer size of the house. The house was built in 1933, according to the marker by the gate. Upon entering, you will marvel at the grand staircase, the expansive receiving room and the foyer filled with hard bound medical books and mementos of Dr. Santos' career as a well loved doctor in this town. The second floor was something else, as our group slowly ascended the magnificent staircase, my heart literally skipped a beat at the sight of the ceiling mural and Art Deco details. We found out later that the mural was painted by the great Fernando Amorsolo himself. There was a private chapel in honour of Our Lady of Lourdes

Bespoke Dining At Denlim's Kitchen

I first heard of Denlim's Kitchen from my friend Boboy Consunji . Boboy posted photos of the Denlim's pugon liempo (pork belly roasted in a brick stove) on Facebook, and it caused me a couple of sleepless nights. Dennis Lim , the chef and owner serves only one group a night, and dinner is booked nine months in advance. One day, I got a call from Boboy, there was a booking cancelation and he was lucky to get the slot. Excited for the big feast, I walked Mega Mall from end to end, and ate in small portions three days before our appointed day. Denlim's is in San Fernando, Pampanga, a two hour drive from the metro. Boboy, a Kapampangan was our living Waze and historian, we didn't have trouble looking for the place. Free of corkage, we each brought a bottle of red wine, my good friend James Reyes , and Noel Orosa . We were a happy group of twelve, Boboy's friends. Each dish personally served by Dennis were wiped out in minutes. I especially loved the bread ser

The Cojuangco Ancestral House

Our next journey takes us to a historic town in Bulacan, thirty minutes north of Manila. My road trip buddies, my college friends who all share with me the same fascination for heritage houses were privileged by an invitation from Melecio Cojuangco to visit their ancestral house in Malolos. Mel, his cousin in law Marissa Lopa, Rima Datuin and Evelyn Bautista and I discovered each other's funny bone because of our love for the ice cream served in a huge bowl at Peninsula Manila's lobby. One evening, to justify our appetite, we pretended it was my birthday and we had the string quartet play happy birthday for me, from then on, we became good friends. Mel's grandfather, Jose Cojuangco was born at the Malolos house, very near the Barasoain Church. Jose's mother traded rice from Nueva Ecija, sacks transported by boat via the river at the back of the kamalig to Binondo, Manila. Like most turn of the century houses, the Cojuangco house uses piedra china stones f

My Refrigerator Door

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