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The News Today

Passad has brought pride to the Ilonggos again when it bagged the Likhang Pilipino Award for Best Furniture Design for the second year. This award was given during the Manila Now 2009 show last March 5 to 8, 2009 at the SMX Convention Center.

The winning piece is a rocking chair designed by Passad's in-house designer, Anto.

Passad's furnitures will also be on exhibit at the Manila FAME International Show on April 15 to 18, 2009 at the SMX Convention Center.

By Kathy M. Villalon, The News Today

Gemma Lee and her award.

A sofa made by Passad, represented by owner Gemma Larraga-Lee won an award in the Muebles Paris, a satellite show of Maison et Objet, the most prestigious show in Europe.

The winning sofa is a handcrafted sculptural piece of laminated small pieces of the gmelina (plantation variety) wood.

They were four companies that represented the Philippines. They were Lightworks, Locsin International, Demex Rattan and Passad. The three mentioned are from Luzon.

Passad's trip to Paris was part of the “Manila Now Goes To Paris” project of the Chamber of Furniture Industries of the Philippines. The project aims to promote the Manila Now 2009, which is slated on March 5 to 8 at the SMX.

By Kathy M. Villalon, The News Today

Le Cirque chairs on Exhibit at Manila Fame 2007.

When abroad, have you ever marveled at the workmanship of a furniture? And despite being expensive, you buy it anyway because you want to have that in your home as well as boast to friends that you imported such fabulous piece from, say, Italy? But what if that furniture, in reality, was made here in Iloilo City, exported to a foreign land and sold by wholesalers again, only to be bought by another Ilonggo?

"Ilonggos think that if it's Ilonggo-made, it looks like something you buy from Central Market. I feel sad about this mentality"

Most world-class furniture were crafted by the adept hands of Filipinos. Ilonggos are not far behind when it comes to world-class expertise. Passad is an example. Located in Barangay Buhang, Jaro, Iloilo City, Passad has been in existence for 12 years and had been in the export business for five years. Get to know more about it through this interview with Gemma Larraga Lee, owner of Passad, vice president for External Affairs of the Iloilo Furniture Manufacturers Association (IFMA) and vice president for Chapter Development of the Chamber of Furniture Industries of the Philippines.