Hello everyone!

We’ve been really busy with work for the past weeks, which explains the relative silence here in Design Folder. But that doesn’t mean that we have nothing to share to you! In fact, a couple of weeks back, we visited and shot some of the showrooms in Nicanor Gracia (aka Reposo St.) in Makati. We are also preparing a sneak peek of two graphic design offices that have been recently renovated, a feature on the ongoing exhibit of Mapua Interior Design in A. Venue Mall, and a home tour of a bachelor’s pad. Lots of new posts to look forward to! We just need to find the time to prepare the features, hehe.

Thankfully, over the weekend, the team was able to squeeze in a 4-day vacation in Siquijor, an island off the coast of Dumaguete. We were impressed by the cleanliness of the island, the beautiful beaches and falls, and the old Spanish Colonial architecture of the province. Here’s a quick rundown of the places that we visited:

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Salagdoong Beach

Cambugahay Falls

St. Francis Church

Lazi Convent

And Lazi Church

The better photos (the ones in mosaic/collage format) are courtesy of our new friend Jay Endaya. {Thanks Jay! }

As I’ve mentioned in a previous post, I didn’t get to visit a lot of Baguio’s tourist spots when we went there. Our visit was short but sweet. And the BenCab Museum made the trip worthwhile. We were there for the opening of the pottery show of my aunt, Ofelia Gelvezon-Téqui. Her glazed stoneware works were on display in one of the several galleries in the multi-floor structure.

{lobby/reception area}

There are works by masters like Joya, Magsaysay-Ho, Edades and contemporary pieces by young artists, indigenous crafts and artifacts, and of course BenCab’s own masterpieces. I love how they displayed the bulol rice granary gods on cantilevered shelves along one whole wall from floor to ceiling.

{bulol collection on display}

I also love how they utilized natural light throughout the whole space. They installed skylights, floor to ceiling windows and clerestory windows.The museum also has a little shop which has a nice collection of books and souvenirs and a café (Café Sabel) which overlooks the forest. Below the museum, you can also wander the farm and garden which produces organic vegetables, fruits and coffee.

{glazed stoneware by Ofelia Gelvezon-Téqui}

{Café Sabel}

{farm and garden}

The same day we were there, a group of about 600 students just visited the place! The BenCab museum just celebrated their 2nd anniversary and it’s already one of the must-see attractions in Baguio. The BenCab Museum is on Km. 6 Asin Road. For more information, visit their site, http://bencabmuseum.org/

Out of the destination properties that I’ve come across in my work for home & shelter magazines (myhome, bluprint, condoliving), Thunderbird’s The Point Residences in La Union probably tops the list. Hello, you have a hotel, a golf course, a casino, a beach and the scenic view of Poro Point all within the community! And let’s not forget the beaches of La Union for those surfing enthusiasts! I’m not surprised that the first phase of this dream Greek Mediterranean village is almost sold out (or maybe already sold out by this time). Check out the photos of the property (below) that we took during our visit to La Union.

To know more about Point Residences, visit their site here. To read about df’s vacation in La Union click here and here.

Thunderbird is also hosting an online video contest right now entitled “Extraordinary”. Bring out your video cameras and think about the traits that makes you extraordinary because Thunderbird is giving away a vacation getaway + P100,000 for the grand prize! Deadline for submission of entries is on Feb. 28, 2011. See the contest mechanics here.

It’s been quite some time since the complete DF team went out of town so when we had our first anniversary, we decided to celebrate it by going to the beach! A friend of ours recommended we stay at Acuatico in San Juan, Batangas.

Acuatico stood out along the strip of resorts in San Juan because of the unique design of their structures. The resort was very pleasant and although there were a lot of guests at that time, we didn’t feel that it was too crowded. We liked it that they split the pool into several sections so you can have your own space to relax and enjoy.

Our room, although a bit small, had super comfortable bed sheets and pillows! We liked the design of the head board too.

Acuatico is worth the 2-hour drive from Manila. To know more about it, you can visit their website here. - ana

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Green Guide tells us we need to visit Batanes soon. And fast! Unlike most people who primarily gush about the beautiful landscape of Batanes (I don’t blame them. I believe Batanes is REALLY beautiful, to say the least.), Green Guide is encouraging us to go to Batanes to see and experience their unique culture and architecture. He claims, with the influx of modern conveniences on the islands, the culture of the Ivatans, the residents of Batanes, is slowly disappearing.

The effect is predominantly felt in the architecture of their houses. The houses are shaped by tradition and the harsh climate unique to the Islands. Given that climate is a form-giver, it is no surprise that the houses of the Ivatans are as unique as its climate and landscape, and can be found nowhere else in the country (ever heard of a traditional Filipino house with an attic?).

Too bad, very few people know about the Ivatan architecture and the Ivatan house. In fact, I only came to know that there’s such a thing as an Ivatan architecture three or four years ago. While there are a lot of  studies made on the Bahay Kubo and the Bahay na Bato, very few researches were done on the Ivatan House. Two possible reasons for this are its remote location and unpredictable weather that make traveling to Batanes relatively difficult.

So, what is special about the Ivantan house?

The Ivatan House is made primarily of lime, stone, wood and thatch. It commonly consists of two structures, the house proper and the kitchen or storage area. The main house has the larger area and is usually made of lime, stone, wood and thatch. The heavier materials (lime and stone) provide better shelter from the constant rains. The kitchen or storage area is usually made of wood and thatch. Compared to the Bahay Kubo and the Bahay na Bato, the Ivatan House has significantly lower ceilings (around 1.60-2.00 meters high only) and smaller door and window openings to keep the interiors warm. Plus, there are Ivatan houses that have an attic!

There are two prevalent types of Ivatan Houses.

First is the Chivuvuhung (above) which is a wood-and-thatch house. I guess this is the Ivatan’s version of the Bahay Kubo. They are used primarily as the kitchen or storage area. They can also be used as a temporary shelter, but if the house is big and sturdy enough, it can be a permanent dwelling.

The columns are timber logs and posts driven to the ground. The walls are made of wood, reeds and two layers of cogon grass. To create windows and door openings, space is left between posts. The floor can be made of wood, depending on its use. The roof is made of alternating layers of reeds and cogon on an A-frame resting on the columns.

The use of masonry was brought to the Batanes Islands by the Spanish colonizers. The Ivatans in their houses adapted this new construction technique, where lime and stone are used for walls. The thicker and stronger walls also offered more protection from the harsh environment of the Islands.

As a result, the Sinadumparan was developed, a lime-stone-wood-and-thatch house. Masonry allowed the builders to increase the size of the house, even adding multiple levels. The lower level is used as a storage or shelter for their animals during typhoons. The upper level is the main living area. A wooden floor, supported by girders, divides the two main levels. The attic (oh yeah, the Ivatans have an attic!), right below the roof, can also be used as a storage area.

It is sad that, bit by bit, traditional materials are being replaced by modern ones. CHB is now being used instead of natural stone, thatch by G.I. sheets, etc.

We need to see them before they completely disappear! We’re also curious to know how the interior spaces of an Ivatan house look like. Besides, Design Folder wouldn’t be complete if we can’t feature both the architecture and interiors of the Ivatan house, right?

That’s why we’re sending this post as an entry to SEAIR’s contest here. Like our entry and help us win!!!

*top photos via wanderlust & philippinebeaches

**illustrations by lilli

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When we go to the beach, I often ask Green Guide to look for nice, interesting corals and shells that I can bring home. After cleaning and bleaching, I use them as additional accessories when styling some of my interior projects.

As expected, the beaches of El Nido are like coral heaven! The white dead corals are really white. No need for brushing and bleaching! There are also a lot of rounded blue corals which we’ve never seen before, even in Coron. Sadly, taking home corals and shells is prohibited in El Nido.

Because I don’t want to put Green Guide’s found treasures to waste, I decided to use some of them to decorate our table during our group’s private picnic lunch in one of the islands. Hmmm, actually I didn’t exactly decorate the table setting because I just scattered the corals around, haha!

Although the view is more than enough to set the ‘island paradise’ ambiance for our picnic, the corals made the table look extra special.

It’s December already! But for the benefit of our readers abroad (especially those from the colder regions), we’re warming up this chilly holiday month with images from a local tropical paradise—El Nido!

Last November, Green Guide and I, together with a group of friends, took a 4-day vacation in the beautiful El Nido, Palawan.

El Nido is in the northwestern tip of Palawan. It is famous for its scenic landscape with numerous limestone islands around the Bacuit Bay. The name El Nido is Spanish for “the nest”, referring to the edible nests of Swiftlets found inside the crevices of limestone cliffs. Another popular feature of El Nido is its diverse wildlife. Its clear waters are home to hundreds of species of tropical fishes and corals, and three species of endangered sea turtles. Its forests are host to more than 100 species of birds, a large number of which are endemic to Palawan. (info via elnidoresorts)

There are two resorts in El Nido: the rustic cottages are in Miniloc island while the more luxurious accommodations are in Lagen island. Although our group stayed in Miniloc (top and above), we also got a chance to visit and dine in Lagen (below).

El Nido is a perfect tropical getaway. In fact, according to two of the foreign guests in the resort, among the many tropical vacation spots that they’ve visited, El Nido is the most beautiful. Unlike the other destinations, El Nido has the best of everything in one place—majestic views, virgin forests, white sand beaches, enchanting lagoons, and great dive/snorkeling sites. On top of its natural beauty, both Miniloc and Lagen offer great accommodations and amenities, and a five-star quality service. Someday, if I win the lottery, I’ll probably spend my weekends here! Haaay, I wish….

View the picture gallery below for the rest of our photos in El Nido. You can visit El Nido Resorts’ website here for more information. -ardel

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After seeing a TV feature on Thunderbird Resort Poro Point, La Union several years ago, I have always been intrigued by the setting that this Greek Mediterranean-inspired resort has to offer. With an architecture that features a low-laying cubical form, cerulean blue dome, whitewashed walls, and arched openings, the resort is reminiscent of the traditional structures built at the edge of the caldera in the volcanic island of Santorini in Greece.

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The design of the hotel’s lobby breaks from the plainness of the exterior and introduces more details through the rippled pattern at the reception counter, the geometric flower design of the tiled floor, and one of the almost-signature-image of Thunderbird Poro Point–the blue nude painting on the domed ceiling, which reminds me so much of a Matisse artwork.

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Our home for the two-night stay is this generously-spaced bedroom with two queen-sized beds and a balcony overlooking the sea. The bright orange accent wall gives the white-and-wengue room a punch of warm color.

The beds are super comfortable! They’re the firm spring mattress type with a pillowtop. It was only then that I realized how the additional layer of cushion makes a huge difference for a bed. Unfortunately, I forgot to lift the beddings to check for the brand of the mattress before we checked out. Or maybe that’s supposed to be a trade secret???

We also liked that there’s a lot of desk space. There’s enough room to accommodate the two of us working on our computers at the same time. Unfortunately, we found out that we have a difficult time working together because we’re tempted to chat and chat and chat, haha!

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The bathroom is also gorgeous. Finished in just one type of tile, the already spacious room looks even bigger. Add to that the frameless glass enclosure, white lavatory counter, and large lighted mirror that completed the clean, streamlined design.

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How we wish we had more lazy time in our room. Maybe next time with the rest of the geng!

View the rest of our photos in the picture gallery below.

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A couple of weeks back, Lilli and I were lucky to be invited by Thunderbird Resorts Poro Point, together with other  bloggers, to visit La Union and experience the dreamy setting and warm hospitality of their Greek Mediterranean-themed resort hotel (above).

During our three days/two nights stay in La Union, Lilli and I got to experience several firsts—first time to be in the company of fellow bloggers and media people, first time to drive a golf cart, first time to have steak for merienda (which we thought was an early dinner, but we were so wrong), first time to get inside a casino AND its vip room (It was sooo exciting! Wished that ana, green guide, orange and the rest of ‘the geng’ were with us.), and first time to be actually working during a vacation (thank god for the resort’s wi-fi internet!).

Apart from the tour of the resort, our kind hosts (hi nica!) also took us on a city tour, stopping by San Juan for a quick surfing lesson (the df girls are no swimmers so we skipped the surfing part and simply watched the ones who participated, hehe),

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Ma-Cho Taosit Temple (below), Pindangan ruins, and ending the tour with a yummy snack of okoy and halo-halo in Halo-halo de Iloko.

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Tomorrow, we’ll share more pictures of the hotel plus our beautiful room. -ardel

How much of the Philippines have you visited?

In support of the ongoing efforts of promoting the local tourism industry, graphic design and pinoy pop-culture lifestyle brand Team Manila came up with these graphic tourism posters. Cool, colorful and eye-catching, their posters feature some of the more popular tourist spots in the country such as the lime cliffs in Palawan (in Coron and El Nido), the green mountains of Batanes, and the countless Chocolate Hills of Bohol to name a few. I love how the posters captured the beauty and essence of each destination and translated them into colorful graphic images.

CLICK HERE to see the rest of the posters in Team Manila’s Flickr photostream.

#HelpDOT and spread the word (and the images)! df