April 17th, 2009
Manila FAME!
Every year I look forward to FAME! FAME is short for Furnishing, Apparel, Manufacturers, Exchange. It’s a trade show featuring the best designers from our Islands! It’s a massive showcase of how talented Filipinos are. It is the second year that the FAME is being held at the SMX convention center. I was really impressed by the space of the convention center! This year was extra special for me as they asked me to be a judge for the very prestigious KATHA awards. It’s an award given by CITEM (Center for International Trade and Exposition Mission), the organizing body of FAME.
- FAME is now on its 49th year of existence! IMAGINE THAT?!
- SMX convention centrer! They had dancers on opening day.
- I found the convention center really cool! I mean this is place was so big! I think the space is really efficient and the aircon was so strong! LOL! Thank goodness because it was quite warm that day!
- I present you the Panel of Judges for the Katha awards: Rajo, Kat, Ed, Tatum and Ogie!!! Are we not a good-looking bunch? LOL!
Being a judge is not easy, as you have to really be fair and think of so many things before actually making a choice. The judging period was very long! It took us close to 4 hours to decide who would win the following awards. Best product design for Home Furnishing, Fashion Accessories ,and Holiday Decor. We then had to decide on who had the best booth, and finally, the Eco-Luxury Award. This all sound easier said than done! LOL!
- Here we are in the deliberation room! Can you feel the tension?! LOL! I can almost feel it in this photo!
After hours of deliberation, we finally got to choose our winners and I felt really proud to be a Filipino! We’re a really talented country and in these challenging times, we really must band together and rally each other so that we can sail through this crisis. I took so many photos from the fair that I have to break them up in several entries. In the meantime, enjoy the photos!
- We did a final walk through after the judging and Ed Calma gave me a nice smile! He was the Chairman of the board of judges! What a trooper! I know how busy he is but he was there all the way through!
I liked this section of the fair where they highlighted several local designers. This chair was cool!
I found this group interesting. They were using plastic tubes.
- One of my fave artists Eric Paras was instrumental in this year’s FAME, as he was the head consultant and overall design guru for the fair! CONGRATULATIONS, Eric! It was SUPERB!
HUGS!
RAJO!
Tags: arts, culture, fame, fashion, Fashion Insider, friends, local artists, philippines, rajo laurel
StyleBibleph
PreviewMag
Hi Rajo,
I can’t thank you enough for lending your time and adding prestige to our distinguished Board of Judges for Katha. I’m glad that you enjoyed yourself looking at the various designs while you agonized over who should win.
I hope next time you will agree to curate our fashion pavilion as we anticipate a bigger show come October 15-18, 2009.
Thank you again and see your soon.
Cheers,
Thelma Dumpit – Murillo
Deputy Executive Director
CITEM/Manila Fame Project Director