By Luis Espiritu | Daily Tribune
1ST row, from left: PIID national president — IDr. Maria Cecilia Ravelas, vice president — IDr. Lorenzo Valencia III, corporate secretary — IDr. Iris Anne Ocampo, treasurer — IDr. Christianne Mutia-Cervantes. Second row, from left: executive director for Public Relations — IDr. Maria Victoria Almario, executive director for Professional Development — IDr. Nina Rica Santamaria, executive director for Events — IDr. Doris Anne Dy, executive director for Finance — IDr. Joy Gladys Ejercito, executive director for Professional Practice and Ethics — IDr. Mary Ann Venturina-Bulanadi.
Under the storied archways of the Goldenberg Mansion, the Philippine Institute of Interior Designers (PIID) convened for an induction for its new board of inspiring and noteworthy visionaries. It was a tableau of creative synergy, where industry luminaries and their kin gathered to witness a sacred pledge to craft and community. The incomparable Daphne Oseña-Paez presided over the rites, her effortless poise lending a shimmering, Vogue-esque sophistication to the morning’s proceedings — a masterclass in hosting that bridged the gap between heritage and the now.
The narrative of the day transitioned seamlessly into the Glasshouse, an architectural gem transformed into a sanctuary of Filipino epicureanism. Margarita Fores’ catering was nothing short of a culinary love letter to the archipelago, serving a menu that balanced rustic regional soul with metropolitan refinement. It was a multisensory experience where the palate met the past, framed by the quiet, organic sculptures of Floret, whose greenery whispered of understated luxury and structural grace amid the sun-drenched glass.
As the afternoon matured, the air grew thick with a poignant, operatic nostalgia. Tenor Ramon Acoymo took centerstage, his voice traversing the diverse medley of six songs of Philippine languages with a resonance that left the room spellbound. When the final, soaring notes of Ang Bayan Ko filled the space, it served as a stirring reminder of the Filipino spirit and designer’s service to the nation. More than just an oath-taking; it was a grounded celebration of identity, signaling a new chapter for the PIID that is as culturally profound as it is aesthetically avant-garde.
