Produktong Pinoy bumida sa design exhibit sa Tokyo

Ni Florenda Corpuz

Kuha ni Din Eugenio

Tokyo, Japan – Isang furniture at home décor exhibition na tinawag na “Philippine Design Exhibition” ang binuksan sa publiko sa Tokyo Midtown Design Hub sa Roppongi noong Pebrero 18 hanggang Marso 22.

Kabilang sa mga produktong ibinida (yari sa fibers, textiles, papel, coconut, shells, kahoy at metal) ay mga obra ng mga pamosong Pinoy designers na sina Al Caronan, Ann Pamintuan, Antonio “Budji’ Layug, Carlo Cordaro, Kenneth Cobonpue, Luisa Robinson, Maria Cristina “Maricris” Floirendo-Brias, Miguel Carlos Aguas, Milo Naval, Renato Vidal, Rene Alcala, Tes Pasola, Tony Gonzales at Vito Selma. Sila ay mga miyembro ng Movement 8, isang alyansa ng mga Pinoy designers na hangad ay ibahagi ang kanilang talento at pagiging malikhain upang isulong ang disenyong Pilipino sa buong mundo.

Pinangunahan ni Philippine Ambassador to Japan Manuel M. Lopez ang pagbubukas ng exhibit na inilarawan niya bilang “a venue to showcase in the world stage the Filipino excellence, ingenuity and unique creativity.”

Sa kanyang opening remarks, sinabi ni Lopez na “this path of creativity and tradition of excellence continues to be proudly carried by all the designers featured in this exhibit today – how their works reflect life, nature, the human spirit and this generation’s responsibility to preserve the environment.”

 “Philippine designers pool their God-given talents to foster greater awareness and appreciation of the value of design – especially how ideas add value to products and the quality of human life and how innovation promotes linkages between world-wide communities. Designers exemplify the philosophy that dreams should be bigger, allow to travel further and create new things that mange to keep this world a constant place of wonder,” dagdag pa ni Lopez.

Dinaluhan din ng humigit-kumulang 100 mga bisita at importers mula sa iba’t ibang kumpanyang Hapon ang pagbubukas.

Ang exhibit ay inorganisa ng Office of Trade and Investment, Philippine Embassy, sa pangunguna ni Commercial Counsellor Maria Bernardita Angara-Mathay, sa suporta ng ASEAN Japan Centre, at dinaluhan ng 14 exporters mula sa iba’t ibang rehiyon ng Pilipinas na nagtataguyod ng Philippine artistry at craftsmanship.