Furniture makers as History Designers.

Ageing the wood (tree) from the time it was germinated , grows a tree ,then sawed ,cut and molded into a desirable kept as functional design either as furniture, or a component of an architectural design is an antique way of  measurement being  practiced by the aborigines Igorot,  from the North of Luzon , ( Baguio) .

Yes, its have been proven by the mainstream culture , that admiring Antiquity is a norms since time immemorial. An objects of antiquity supposedly intended only for  a  storage of history (legacy),evolved to be an actual exchange mode of value ( the antique itself) . However for some , an object of antiquity,provides a higher form of significance as a  gift for diplomacy , friendship and goodwill .

Examining the old narra cabinet in my safekeeping is gamut story associated with the one who made it , associated with the local history of the town of Barcelona. The old narra cabinet was original gift ,customary built by my paternal grandfather Philipe Estipona a master on his own craft as a furniture designer,carpenter , planner and  house builder on his era, to my newly wed parents Teofilo Kee Paras Estipona and Sorayda Casulla Estipona. Since the couple have just been celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary ( 50 years ), most likely the Cabinet age would around be more than 50 years old using the aborigines way of measuring wood antiquity.

My grand father wood craft carving techniques was special then, when hand made tools was a customs . Labor and skills and time consume would always be prime consideration of contracting a customized designs furniture or a entire house itself. He was one of the few who originally consulted, hired, executed the original elegant Rennaissance Mansion of our retired honorable major of Municipality of Barcelona , Salvador Nee Estuyee. The Rennaisance Mansion is located exactly to what is now a modest ( minimalist ) Mansion today standing at Barangay Tagdon Barcelona Sorsogon.

Growing up in the same barangay where the "Elegant Rennaissance Mansion " , seeing it was always a sighed of   bewilderment , despite of  its few years  era of abandonment . It become of landmark of admiration for each passersby , despite of its historical narratives besieged the whole family of the " Nee Estuyee". I witnessed how it was slowly decayed by the passage of time. The Rennaissance Mansion , characterized by its "azotea", with a balustrade made from the brownish glazed ceramics ,over looking to the wide blue Pacific Ocean. It has a grand  staircase from the second floor leading to the ground of the  main grand entrance of the gated mansion.

The Rennaissance Mansion become an epitome of an era of opulence where the owner owning only a vast tract of land, merchandise traders, owners of many dogs, high breed texas roosters for cockfighting and a special model of car (now consider vintage model). No body in the history of the local Municipality can predict the fate of the Rennaissance Manions as its stood on its hay day. Until one day it padlock by the local banks for the business fatality. Its an era of borgeouse defeatism haunting probably not just the Municipality of the Barcelona , but in the entire regions perhaps in the whole archipelago . It would take only one generation, one man in the person of honorable Atty. Salvador Nee Estuyee , an heir of the " Nee - Estuyee", to claimed the clans name . The Rennaissance Mansions which was abandoned during my formative years , bring back its luster after a decade of dark silence. Determine to catapult , family historical narrative of borgeouse defeatism .Barely a youthful on his profession as a certified lawyer , he took the town Mayor ship.He claimed the right title from the bank of the entire property , and renovate it to what it is today., a modest minimalist architecture.

Atty. Salvador Nee Estuyee achievement for what he have done to his family became a model of admiration. Because of this he was voted in the majoralty for several consecutive years . He have been in the position for almost symmetrical with the terms of the former president Ferdinance Marcos. He belongs to the ticket of the Salvador Escudero, then with the Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.Being the presume head of head of the clans and respectable public servant, his personal and political statement pervades  , cascade down even up to the dinner table of his immediate others, relatives, neighbors most especially to his political allies.


It was Atty. Salvador Nee Estuyee, who helped eloped and depended on  my father sentence for a short term in jail for a case of alleged illegal fishing .How ever it was his local ordinance, complying with the Department of the Natural Resources and Department of Agriculture that the supposedly expansion of my fathers owned managed fishpond have been postponed a lifetime.

It was he who made the final wish to my grandfather Philipe Estipona , whom he asked " Philipe if you are going to die today what would be your grand wish", and my grand father replied " to be able to experienced a ride in an airplane". So good to be true, after Atty. Salvador Nee Estuyee granted him that wish " providing my grand father a free ticket from PAL Philippine Airlines from Manila to Legaspi City ", after a few days  my grand father died.( the story is from a neighbor acount).

Until lately that Atty . Salvador Nee Estuyee  nake name have been change. Formerly   called by the children who fond of poking him as just " major", or lovingly "papa major", he adopted the name " Dato". Does he envision of the BBL Bangsamoro Law , for " Dato"is synonymous with the Sultanate titles? A very Malays sound.

According to " Mr. E ",  now the leading actor Pastoring the " Local Eglesia ni Cristo Church", looking now the modest minimalist architecture of the former Renaissance Mansion " i was one together with your lolo who made that house".


Wood, design, furniture, architecture would be the main feature of the upcoming Manila Fame March 13-15, 2015 at SMX , SM Mall of Asia.

BLUE PRINT , architectural and design magazine have just celebrated their 15th anniversary at Madison Bistro Moderne ( Shangri-la Hotel , Manila Ortigas) . The event was worth attending with the presence of the Philippine only glass sculptor Ramon Orlina. "Cote de Mas  Intense Indulgence Sud de France", was official red wine , for the only invited guest .



Henry Estipona
Philippines