Furniture makers join trade show

By Herbert P. Mapiles
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
MANILA – Pampanga furniture makers have joined a trade show on lifestyle exports at the SMX Convention Center Mall of Asia Complex.
Major design-intensive groups of the country, including Chamber of Furniture Industries of the Philippines-Pampanga (CFIP), Manila Now, Cebu Next and Bijoux Cebu, were gathered at the Manila Fame International, said Doris Gacho of the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions.
Some 300 direct and indirect exporters, manufacturers, traders and trade associations joined the four-day trade show.
Held since 1983, the Manila Fame International is the country’s premiere trade show on lifestyle exports, covering a wide array of design-intensive products from furniture and furnishings, holiday and gifts and fashion products.
CFIP president Philip Repato of Philiana Design said 19 of their members joined.
The CFIP-Pampanga had found use to water lily, which is blamed for clogged river channels in the province contributing to the flood problem.
Repato and Anthony Joseph Torres of the Guagua, Pampanga-based Furnitureville Inc. showcased their new products made of water lily, also known as water hyacinth.
Governor Lilia Pineda gives water lilies to the CFIP-Pampanga for free, and in return, the furniture firm trains residents on furniture making.
Repato said CFIP employs at least 10,000 workers in Pampanga.
He said water lilies as materials for furniture are heavily used in Thailand.
“So in our country, particularly in Pampanga, we will design other products made out of water lily that are not common in Thailand,” said Repato.
Erdy Feliciano of the Angeles City-based Calfurn Manufacturing Philippines said he is also creating design of products made up of water lily.
His firm had been known to use ‘abaca’ and old newspapers as materials for their products.
Source : http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/local-news/2011/10/18/furniture-makers-join-trade-show-185621