LOOK: Google's Asia Pacific HQ has Filipino touches

SINGAPORE - Google's Asia Pacific headquarters here is a vast expanse of green, steel and light colored wood, with fixtures that take their names after regional landmarks, including those in the Philippines.

Employees and guests can lounge on Cebu-based designer Kenneth Cobonpue's Yoda chairs in light green, placed beside the floor to ceiling glass windows that overlook the Mapletree Business City.

Some meetings rooms are named after famous tourist spots, including the Chocolate Hills in Bohol and Banaue province, where the rice terraces are located.

It is not uncommon for multinational companies to name meeting rooms in their regional hubs after local landmarks. Bloomberg's Singapore office has a meeting room named after Malacañang.

A life-sized Google logo is displayed in the lobby.

A giant Lego set mounted on the wall keeps guests entertained.

A "unisex" restroom is open to everyone, apparently including androids and mermaids.

The lobby is vast and devoid of traditional office fixtures.

Employees can go to work on bicycles.

The Growing with Google conference that the company hosted for journalists last April 12 was held at an auditorium named after Mt. Everest, the world's tallest peak.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Endeavor searches for next Cobonpue, Bo's Coffee

MANILA - Endeavor Philippines, a group that mentors disruptive businesses, is bringing its search for high-impact entrepreneurs to Cebu, one of its officials said Monday.

In just 2 years in the country, Endeavor has helped, among others, homegrown Bo's Coffee, technology firm Xurpass and furniture designer to the stars Kenneth Cobonpue.

Its most recent startup, Lenddo, helps banks tap unconventional means like social media presence to determine the credit worthiness of the poor.

"The way we help economies grow is by helping to accelerate what we call high impact entrepreneurs," Endeavor Philippines managing director Manny Ayala told ANC's Market Edge with Cathy Yang.

"What we see is very consistent across all the markets we work in, for an entrepreneur ecosystem to thrive and flourish, really, all it needs is a handful of these high-impact entrepreneurs," he said.

Endeavor entrepreneurs generate 5 times more jobs, 2 times more revenue, are 8 times more likely to mentor other businessmen and 4 times more likely to invest in other businesses, Ayala said.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

LOOK: Kenneth Cobonpue designs chairs, tokens for APEC dinner

Kenneth Cobonpue has designed chairs and tokens for the APEC Economic Leaders’ Welcome Dinner. Photo from the APEC 2015 Philippines website

MANILA – Cebu-based internationally renowned designer Kenneth Cobonpue is the creative director for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Welcome Dinner.

His role includes designing the set design for the dinner to be held at the Mall of Asia Arena, as well as creating souvenir tokens and special chairs for the 21 economic leaders.

(LOOK: Kenneth Cobonpue designs first restaurant)

“I wanted to transform the whole space into a huge outdoor garden,” Cobonpue said of his vision for the set design in a statement released on the APEC 2015 Philippines website. “Part of the challenge was how to transform the coldness and immensity of the arena and turn it into something that’s warm and cozy.”

The chairs of the 21 economic leaders are based on Cobonpue’s Yoda chair design, which is inspired by blades of grass, but will have armrests and wheels.

The tokens, named Sama-Sama (together), are glass-covered brass sculptures finished in yellow gold, pale silver and warm copper, showing communities of people in island formations to symbolize APEC members.

“What I always find challenging… [is] to still use natural materials and natural themes, and to make it sophisticated – to show that we are rooted in the past, but we are [also] right in the 21st century,” Cobonpue explained. “I think it’s really important… to showcase the best of who we are and what we are – and we do that with the program, and all the little details that make up the whole welcome dinner.”

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

How Seda hotel is boosting PH furniture industry

MANILA, Philippines - A homegrown boutique hotel chain is fast becoming a showcase for the work of Philippine furniture companies and Filipino designers such as Kenneth Cobonpue and Anne Pamintuan.

Seda hotels, which are under Ayala Land Hotels and Resorts, are now becoming known for their contemporary interiors.

Described by an Asian travel and trade industry expert as an “affordable luxury” brand, Seda now has hotels in Bonifacio Global City, Cagayan de Oro City, Davao City and Nuvali in Laguna.

Aspiring to be the leading Filipino hotel brand highlighting the best of Philippine hospitality in prime urban locations, Seda is also naturally inclined to showcase the works of Philippine furniture makers, many of whom have made a name abroad.

These well-made furniture pieces are now in 665 rooms in the four Seda hotels. By 2019, they will be in at least 1,900 more hotel rooms of Seda, which is projecting to open at least six more hotels in Metro Manila, Palawan and Iloilo City.

Seda’s expansion plans have been welcomed by high-end local furniture makers.

Furniture makers in Cebu, Pampanga and Manila are now seeing an increasing volume of local business from Seda and other expanding hotel chains.

Eileen Escobido, AyalaLand Hotels and Resorts project development head, said the Philippines is known to produce furniture that matches the quality delivered by other key regional players like Malaysia and China.

"In addition to exceptional and consistent service and a great location in an Ayala Land mixed-use community, our brand DNA includes quietly elegant and sophisticated surroundings that make use of straight, clean lines and contemporary design. We’re happy that our Filipino furniture suppliers have the capability and craftsmanship to meet our requirements and achieve that ambiance," she said.

Escobido said guests have praised the locally-made beds now available in its hotel rooms.

"They hold their own against the branded beds used by international hotels here and abroad," she said.

Seda also designed its hotels so that the guest experience will basically be the same whether one is in the Nuvali or Davao property.

Guest satisfaction with the brand is illustrated by its high repeat rate of 50 percent. Seda was being recently named the “Philippines’ Leading Hotel Group” in 2014 by the 21st World Travel Awards in New Delhi, India, besting other Filipino brands.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

What Cobonpue tells furniture makers

CEBU- Kenneth Cobonpue is asking furniture makers to widen their imagination and develop skills in creating their own style rather than copy or imitate materials produced by others.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) raided a furniture factory in Angeles City on Tuesday, after Cobonpue's legal team accused the factory owner of copying their furniture designs.

Among those designs they copied were the Yoda, and Yin and Yang chairs.

Cobonpue said he will continue to file charges against factory owners and other individuals who had or will copy his creations.

According to the Property Code of the Philippines, trademarks, patents, and other forms of intellectual property are protected. Those who steal intellectual property are criminally liable.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

A peek at Kenneth Cobonpue's vintage cars

World-renowned Filipino designer Kenneth Cobonpue shows ANC Executive Class host David Celdran his vintage car collection in Cebu, and explains why he chose these rare cars. -- ANC, Executive Class, February 16, 2013

source: abs-cbnnews.com