Press Release
November 10, 2011

SENATOR TG GUINGONA SUPPORTS DESIGN WEEK PHILIPPINES

Senator Teofisto "TG" Guingona urged the nation to participate and support local designers, manufacturers and design professionals wherein they could showcase the application of their creativity and design capability that would bring in buyers locally and worldwide to source their products and inspirations during the third week of March and December which was declared in the Presidential Proclamation No. 277 as "Design Week Philippines".

Guingona reiterated that there is a need to highlight the creativity and design capability of the Filipinos to bring in opportunities for economic development towards viable trade benefits. He emphasized in his proposed Senate Bill No. 2131 for a Design Council of the Philippines that it is important to remember that design goes beyond aesthetics: design fuses art, culture, business, science and technology towards the purpose of solving problems. More than just producing beautiful products, Guingona believes that Filipino designers hold so much potential in using creativity and design for innovation -- so that our country shall not just follow trends, but be able to set them. Good design can also be applied on many other domains, such as social innovation and sustainability projects.

He also pointed out that a very good example of how design can catapult the country and improve its international standing is the rehabilitation of NAIA I. The country's airport presents the reputation of the country. Surely, Philippines will be accordingly recognized if we can show the creativity and innovative thinking of Filipinos.

Guingona commended the proposed NAIA terminal 1 rehabilitation and renovation conceptualized by Budji Layug, Royal Pineda and Kenneth Cobonpue that is going viral in the social networking sites.

Guingona said, "I am very thankful that we have some of the Philippines' best designers lending their time and ideas for the country's cause. I am positive that this much-needed rehabilitation will greatly boost our tourism industry, and hopes that this can jumpstart more design and innovation-driven actions in the government."

The country's airport is the first face that we present to visitors from all over the world. Guingona added, "We are blessed with an incredibly beautiful country. Now, the challenge is in making sure that our airport -- the gateway to the Philippines -- reflects that."

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