The Intramuros Administration and the Design Center of the Philippines partnered for the 8th edition of Design Week Philippines last October 14-22, 2017. Design Week Philippines features various projects and events that celebrate Filipino design and artistry. This year’s theme focused on rebirth-from old to new, from mainstream to the path less travelled.
One of the major events is DESIGN TALKS which featured Assoc. Prof. Eric B. Zerrudo who talked about The Hyperpresent: Redefining Heritage, Reforming Conservation; the Administrator of Intramuros, Atty. Guiller B. Asido who talked about An Urban Vision of Intramuros Renaissance; Geographer and Urban Planner David Garcia who discussed how to Make Useful Maps; Ms. Malaya del Rosario of the British Embassy who talked about how Creative Hubs act as Catalyst for Community Building, during the morning session. The afternoon session featured Ms. Nina Terol, Chief FireBall of Kick Fire Kitchen who talked about Designing from the Inside-Out: Purpose, Passion and Transformation; Mr. Francis Simisim, CEO of Social Light, Inc., who shared his jump into entrepreneurship; Mr. Miguel Cuneta, Co-founder and Chief Community Officer of Satochi Citadel Industries, who talked about bitcoin and crypto currencies; and Mr. Carl OCab, CEO of Carl Ocab Internet Marketing Services who talked about how he created one of the highest caliber internet marketing agencies.
The opening weekend of Design Week on October 14-15, which had an attendance of 17,833, coincided with the Intramuros Open House of VivaManila at Baluarte de San Diego. Aside from Open Mercado, a showcase of innovative and creative brands, there was a concert by IndieManila, featuring IV of Spades, Rob & The Hitmen, Ang Bandang Shirley, She’s Only Sixteen, and Keiko Necesario. Tulaan sa Liwasan also performed spoken word poetry. The Sunday stage was an open mic for singers and songwriters as well as special performances by Christine Imperial, The Sorry Sorry Band and Hansom.
CREATIVE ENVIRONMENT INTRAMUROS offered free workshops and lectures such as a Digital Blogging Workshop by WheninManila.com, All About Coffee by The Yardstick, Craft Your Own Beer by the Craft Beer Association of the Philippines, Crafternoons by DMC, film screening by the ABS-CBN Film Restoration, and a Design Thinking Workshop by Phil Smithson of the On-Off Group.
A major project under Design Week is the Pedicab Redesign. Selected pedicab drivers who have undergone the tour guiding and customer service training by the Department of Tourism and the Intramuros Administration were given new tarpaulin wraps for their pedicabs. The design was created by the Communications Design Association of the Philippines, integrating designs of the Fort Santiago gate, Manila Cathedral’s Door’s Arch, the Pasig River, the San Agustin Church’s Bell Tower and the beautiful sunsets seen in Intramuros.
Other independently organized events during the Design Week include an Ad Hoc Sketchwalk by Urban Sketch Manila, Photography Exhibit and Lectures by the Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation, Blind Date with a Book by The Bookstop Project, and the Sorok Short Film Screening by Sorok Uni Foundation.
The Closing day at Fort Santiago on October 22, attended by 3,071, was another open house with a bike exhibit, weekend market, and a concert by Flying Ipis, Oh! Flamingo, and Cheats.
Design Week Philippines is just the first of a series of events and activities that are being organized by Intramuros Administration and the Design Center of the Philippines to continue engaging Intramuros as a creative district by institutionalizing activities and programs that will showcase Filipino design and ingenuity.