Debbie Palao . Blog

IN THE MORNING OF THE TIGER
» 2010 January-February • Welcoming 2010•

Malipayong Bag-ong Tu-ig! After the fireworks and the festivities, after the fitful sleep that follows an evening of wonderful food in wonderful company sharing sublime wine, after kissing (or slapping) 2009 as it leaves on cloven feet, there is the inevitable morning after. 2010 stretches on on clawed feet and yawns, opening sleepy feline eyes to the new year.

Graphic Art by M. Arnado

Greetings to a new year from friends visiting town and family from far away always warms the engine for another 365 days on the go. The first day of work is always the hardest! Nobody can quite pull themselves out of the Christmas languor to hack away at the dredges of last year's assignments. I prefer to accuse the wonderful food that comes with end-of-year celebrations instead.

I'm on my way to perfecting the Palao Family lemon meringue pie. On my way!(via FoodNetwork)

What did I say...I got there!

Plump Californian seedless grapes, queseo goat cheese, and red wine!

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On the calendar of Very Important Events, up this March is the Cebu Next [»] furniture show. We have been participating in the Cebu show for as long as we have been active in the industry, in whatever name and incarnation it was christened in. I remember how it used to be PIFS Cebu; a younger sister, fledgling exhibition that took off from the older PIFS (Philippine International Furniture Show) Manila. To give it a distinct name of its own, at some point in the 90's we all came together and decided that "Cebu-X" would be more fitting––an exhibition place, a factor to consider in the macroscopic outlook of furniture design, a playful enigma, a dynamic, chemical reaction.

It has been so far the most important show for us, which is why apart from the Salone show in Milano, we always hustle and bustle for the March deadline. The crisis has not been kind to anyone in any industry, and it's not surprising to find even major fairs missing some prime exhibitors in the area. Exhibitors, and visitors too; technology has allowed negotiations between buyer and manufacturer to commence online, saving the latter time and money in flying back and forth.

Tutt glows patiently while the backdrop and other props are prepared for shooting.

A far cry from how I remember we did it, when Gus and I began this business in the really early 90's. In fact, there was a lot of rifling to do to produce a product shot, and a lot of fuss for a photoshoot! These days it's as simple as getting the perfect light, pointing, and clicking. That's not to say that shooting days pass by in a humdrum thrum of inactivity! Where the negatives and developing have gone, Photoshop has taken over. While old-school photographers and film affectionados have something to say about this, I am quite happy with how it has allowed a greater majority access to techniques, and a taste of artistry that has been, until then, unreachable.

Staff adjusting the makeshift reflectors as Gus tries for the shot

Well, with everything hurtling into the final days before the show, there is hardly any breathing space left in the office! Not just for myself, but for everybody. We will be releasing the first wave of our 2010 campaign shortly, so watch out for that!

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»»All photos (except Meringue Pie lifted from Foodnetwork) taken by K. Batiquin.

Labels: 2010, cebu-x, events-new year

HAVE YOURSELVES A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS
» 2009 December • From now on our troubles will be miles away.

It is actually a difficult thing to follow the encouragement blasting through loudspeakers everywhere this season: 'tis the season to be jolly!' On the one hand, gifts are starting to trickle in. There is always the childlike anticipation that mounts in us when we see a wrapped present (although what we wish for these days has evolved from pining for a simple doll or two, into things like a trip to Spain or a year's worth of fancy dinners every night).

On the other hand, there is the tedious preparation of presents. While I do enjoy shopping for gifts for people––it is also a way of 'updating' myself with friends, when, say, I find myself choosing baby favours for an old classmate for whom I'd chosen a sleek pair of leather pumps the year before––the lines at the cashier areas are impossible. Suddenly, as if it had been a hidden fact all along, department stores seem to become appallingly badly-designed! Suddenly the corridors are too narrow; suddenly the aisles feel very cramped; suddenly escalators are where they should not be. Suddenly, a sprawling shopping mall feels like a tiny broom closet.

But after this little 'combat for the counter', the trip home becomes a more relaxing affair.

• • • • • •

This year, instead of physical presents, Gus and I have decided to give something special. I have talked about the Capuchin Tertiary Order of the Holy Family, [»] and their project which I support. We've found a way to extend the beauty of their endeavour to friends and family members who, we know, will be willing to help as well.

At the close of this year, several orphaned girls––in the many ways that one can be orphaned and left alone––will have a brighter, more hope-filled 2010 to look forward to.

• • • • • •

In the mornings, as is a tradition here, we strive to attend the Misa de Gallo, Morning Mass, which is held everyday at our local parish for 9 days until Christmas morning. A novena mass as it is, with origins in Spanish-occupied Philippines. It starts at four in the morning; a feat, considering that on a typical day, I'm the type to sleep at 2am!!

But then that is why they say that this is the season to be jolly––not for the self, selfishly, but for others and for how you can become better as a person. I come to look at it like an end-of-term examination (in both senses of the word): How am I different this year? and From all the things I have learned both fortunately and unfortunately, how can I put them to practice?

I like to start with simple, real things. Something as commonplace as waking up an extra hour or two earlier is a small achievement, which can snowball to bigger things like designing items for the next show earlier in the show season. Something as everyday as perfecting the Palao family lemon pie can actually find echoes in business decisions when weighing which draft to put into production.

Season's Greetings!!

Labels: 2010, new year, projects-CTS-Novitiate