Romeo Balderrama Jr., president of the Philippine Homestyle and Holiday Decor Association, Inc. (PHILHHDA) and the Philippine Exporters Confederation–Southern Tagalog Association, Inc. (PHILSTAI), said next year’s export performance will largely depend on orders booked from the October 2025 housewares and décor trade show in Hong Kong and Manila FAME.

Manila FAME is the Philippines’ premier trade exhibition for home, fashion, and lifestyle products, drawing buyers from key global markets.

“The samples and inquiries usually come in January and February of the following year,” Balderrama said in a mix of English and Filipino. “We had buyers before who seem to be coming back again after seeing us in Hong Kong, since many of them no longer travel here.”

The United States remains the industry’s biggest export destination, accounting for roughly 60 to 70 percent of total shipments. Other key markets include Italy, Brazil, and Japan.

Balderrama underscored the critical role of international trade fairs in sustaining market visibility, building buyer confidence, and generating repeat orders.

“Product development is the main key. Buyers always want something new, something indigenous, something sustainable—that’s our niche,” he said. “You really need a niche because you can’t compete on price with China.”

He added that strong unique selling propositions—such as craftsmanship, sustainability, and Filipino design identity—are essential to differentiating local products in the global market.

Despite the positive outlook for 2026, Balderrama said export earnings for 2025 are likely to fall by 30 to 40 percent compared with previous years, citing sluggish demand and currency pressures, including the strengthening of the peso against the US dollar.

“It’s not like before. Everything is sluggish, even the local market. Prices are high,” he said.

He also noted that converting trade fair participation into actual export sales typically takes time, often requiring two to three consecutive appearances.

“On your first participation, you can’t immediately gauge if sales will go up or if buyers will place orders,” Balderrama said. “Sometimes you have to wait another year or two before sales really pick up, after buyers see that you’re not a fly-by-night business—that you’re here to stay.”

Maison et Objet and Ambiente showcased a vibrant fusion of sustainability and innovation, emphasizing eco-friendly materials and new design practices. Exhibitors highlighted the importance of wellness in living spaces, observing the dynamic interplay of products and design with a focus on natural materials, and ergonomic and multifunctional furniture.  

For 2024, the German-based trade show featured nearly 5,000 exhibitors, double the number in Maison et Objet. Both shows, however, attracted an average of 105,000 trade buyers and visitors.

For the Philippine participation in Maison et Objet and Ambiente, the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), the country’s export promotions agency, assisted 51 companies with four of them joining both trade shows.

The country’s presence at Maison et Objet this year was marked by the integration of visual arts and the exploration of new opportunities by some companies through benchmarking activities during the event. Meanwhile, for Ambiente, the Philippine delegation included the partner provinces Antique and Quirino, and some companies new to overseas trade fairs trying to enter business in Europe through market sensing.

Visual art meets craftsmanship for the Philippine participation in Maison et Objet 2024.

The Philippine exhibition in the two shows attracted 860 unique trade buyers and generated a total of 1,783 inquiries from countries including Germany, Italy, Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden, Spain, Japan, Belgium, Portugal, China, the United Kingdom, the United States, and France. Total sales generated reached nearly US $6 million, with the best-selling items including furniture, lamps, wall art, astrological clocks, home accessories, visual arts, canvas and brush products, embroidered trays, mamorcast bowls, decorative wall birds, organic vases, capiz wreaths, Christmas trees, fossilized flowers, and driftwood decor.

Native holiday decors attract foreign buyers at the Philippine exhibition in Ambiente 2024.

Maison et Objet showcased a dynamic blend of creativity and lifestyle, focusing on emerging designers and innovative concepts that reflect current trends in home decor. Four trends dominated the Paris show—organic shapes, whimsical and statement pieces, patterns, and natural and sustainable products.

Round shapes, ovals, and curves overtook designs with sharp and straight lines, from huge furniture pieces to small home decor accessories and tabletops.

Four trends dominated the Paris show— (clockwise) patterns, natural and sustainable products, whimsical and statement pieces, and organic shapes.

Veering away from minimalist and simple shapes, many brands came strong with soft and circular designs, whimsical accessories, and statement pieces. There were many animal themes found in furniture, lighting, sculpture, and home decor, appealing to playful and eccentric personalities.

Maximalism was also carried on by exhibitors who took the pattern trend. The use of bold patterns and colors extended to both their pieces and booth setting.

In contrast, Ambiente, through trend bureau bora.herke.palmisano, shared a forecast of design trends.

AURA OF PROGRESS_visionary + elemental brings together seemingly contradictory elements: Primal force meets futurism, archaic meets hyper-innovation. Graphic: Messe Frankfurt.

QUALITY OF SILENCE_pure+familiar takes account of the growing desire for calm, clarity and a human living environment. Graphic: Messe Frankfurt.

SPIRIT OF CRAFT_bold+poetical brings the diversity of craftsmanship into focus and brings them together in expressive combinations. Graphic: Messe Frankfurt.

Both shows, however, did have one common denominator—sustainable and eco-friendly products and solutions. European buyers are generally characterized to committing to companies that have strong initiatives towards reducing their carbon footprint.

According to 2024 data from Statista, a global data and business intelligence platform, the European market for home decor products has grown significantly, generating revenues of US $37.89 billion. It is projected to experience a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 2.15% from 2024 to 2029. The customers in this region have also developed a growing demand for sustainable and eco-friendly products.

Philippine companies that are keen on entering the European market are advised to integrate sustainability in their value chains. The European Union (EU) has been aggressively enforcing regulations on more environmentally sustainable and circular products. Based on the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) by the EU, sustainable products should exhibit one or more of the following characteristics: they use less energy, last longer, can be easily repaired, have parts that can be disassembled for further use, contain fewer harmful substances, are easily recyclable, incorporate more recycled content, and maintain a lower carbon and environmental footprint throughout their lifecycle. Specific penalties can vary depending on the nature of non-compliance with the ESPR, which can include administrative fines, product recalls, and legal action, among other consequences.

Additionally, advancements in technology have transformed the trading landscape in Europe, especially with the prevalence of online shopping. This presents an opportunity for Philippine policymakers to sustain the enabling environment that supports emerging local enterprises to develop innovative e-commerce platforms, allowing them access to and penetrate the global market. – Sources:https://www.statista.com/outlook/cmo/furniture/home-decor/europe and https://commission.europa.eu/energy-climate-change-environment/standards-tools-and-labels/products-labelling-rules-and-requirements/ecodesign-sustainable-products-regulation_en

WAF is the largest global gathering of the leading architects and designers (A&D), who engaged in thought leadership talks, business networking and opportunities over the course of the prestigious event.

This year’s festival theme ‘Tomorrow’ examines how architecture, urban design, landscape and interiors will be affected by the trends we see around us in respect of population movement, city growth, digital technology, AI, immersive environments and cultural change. The global A&D community converged at WAF to advance this theme through various keynotes, speakers, and conversations to catalyze ideas and opportunities.

The theme resonates with the A&D community’s deep appreciation that buildings exert considerable aesthetic and psychological impact on our everyday lives. WAF reflects and advances this understanding through its live judging and discourse on competing ideas that affect the human experience.  Over 800 entries vied for coveted awards across different categories. Out of the 53 category winners, 21 were from Asia and Australasia, led by Australia (9), China (3), Singapore, India and Japan (2 each).

GROHE, a part of LIXIL and a leading global brand for complete bathroom solutions and kitchen fittings, has supported WAF from the very beginning. As WAF Founding Partner, GROHE seeks to deepen appreciation of the unique role water plays for the design discipline and in shaping innovative architectural visions and solutions around the element of water. The GROHE SPA-inspired ‘Aquatecture’ exhibit at WAF highlights the fusion of water and architecture – elevating the significance and importance of water in architecture, and the health and well-being benefits this infusion brings.

GROHE is also the sponsor of the GROHE Water Prize, which was awarded to the Maotai Eco-Metaverse project, by Turenscape. This research and development project is being built across 8 hectares in Maotai Town, Guizhou Province, China,  for a liquor distillery to manage a daily output of 7,000 tons of sewage and industrial wastewater, by creating an ecosystem that fully integrates water, nutrient, carbon, and energy recycling. Although specific to a planned distillery, the principles involved would apply to any industrial facility using large amounts of water. This is the sixth time the GROHE Water Research Prize has been awarded, with past winners across water filtration, generation and cooling systems in Bangladesh, Peru, Brazil, and Greece.

Audrey Yeo, Leader, LIXIL Water Technology, Asia Pacific, expressed, “As WAF Founding Partner, it is gratifying to see the tremendous industry support that’s enabled us to build WAF into one of the most respected global platforms for leading industry discussions and rigorous peer-reviewed awards. GROHE engagement with WAF, from the start, has never wavered to address and collaboratively find solutions to pressing industry issues and macro trends, such as personal wellbeing and sustainability, facing the A&D community.”

“Our GROHE SPA ‘Aquatecture’ installation showcases the powerful connection of water in architecture. Through continued engagement and dialogue, we aim to inspire architects and designers, encouraging collaboration and experimentation. The installation features our luxurious GROHE SPA collections, which have been curated and crafted to the highest standards and finishes, enabling freedom to design bespoke showering experiences for discerning consumers.” Audrey added.

Paul Finch, Programme Director, WAF, said, “We extend our deepest congratulations to all WAF and INSIDE award winners. They continue to impress industry peers with their forward thinking and visionary projects.  The industry faces constant pressure to deliver excellence in the face of change, which we explored through our  ‘Tomorrow’ theme. We appreciate the support extended from all quarters of the industry, especially our sponsors and delegates, in advancing design excellence across the discussions, awards, and networking at WAF.”

For further information on LIXIL Global Design, please visit this Instagram link.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce Philippines (ICCPI) brought an early taste of Christmas to Manila on November 9 with a vibrant culinary showcase at FURNItalia in BGC, Taguig City.

Over 300 guests, including ICCPI members, C-level executives, celebrities, and other stakeholders, gathered to experience the flavors of Italy.

With every bite of focaccia, sip of wine, and taste of gelato, guests indulged in an authentic Italian experience, embracing a season of warmth, camaraderie, and joy.

This celebration highlighted Italy’s gastro diplomacy and showcased some of Italy’s finest offerings—from artisanal furniture to golden olive oils.

Featured exhibitors included:

• Bialetti
• The Wine Club
• Blu Coffee
• Silver Secrets Inc.
• AM Group
• Kevin Ong Patisserie
• Italian Bakery
• Esclusivo Inc.

With Italian hospitality at its heart, the event captured “la dolce vita” in Manila, inviting everyone to celebrate Italy’s festive spirit in a new home away from home.

Products included are the:

1. CHERRY Smart Swivel S3 Camera and CHERRY Smart SB Camera – Save PHP 504 because this promo bundle is now only PHP 2,400!
2. CHERRY Flare S7 Power – Buy 1 Take 1 and save PHP 1,999!
3. AVITA ESSENTIAL Laptop with FREE S2 Pulse Headset – From PHP 12,280, buy yours for only PHP 12,000!

So, what are you waiting for? Go and visit the CHERRY store nearest you now! You can find us at SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, SM Fairview, SM Dasma, SM Bacoor, SM Ecoland, SM Marikina, SM Southmall, and Robinsons Manila.

For more information, visit:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cherryphilippines.official

It has a LED display with an ergonomic design. Three different colors are available for you—violet, white, and gray. You can opt for the purple one if you love pastel and feminine things. However, if you want something minimal, you can pick the white or gray fan. It has an easy-to-scroll gear speed setting and a long lasting 5000Ah battery. It also has a Type–C charging. Stay cool and fresh wherever, whenever with the CHERRY High Speed Ice Cooling Fan for PHP 1,200. 

If you are an outgoing and busy person living in the Philippines, you should always make sure to bring devices that will help your health. The CHERRY High Speed Ice Cooling Fan will help you in your everyday routine—look fresh and comfortable wherever! You can use it at home, in the office, and even when you travel because it’s lightweight and easy-to-use. Make your safekeeping and packing convenient with CHERRY.

The CHERRY High Speed Ice Cooling Fan is perfect for those who love the outdoors. Whether you’re a traveler, camper, or hiker, this product is for you. Get yours now!

For more information, visit: 

CHERRY Shop PH: www.cherryshop.com.ph

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WAF also represents a global platform for branding, business networking and opportunities. Nearly 2,000 delegates attended the WAF and INSIDE events and over 800 entries vied for coveted awards across different categories. Out of the 55 category and special award winners, 24 were from Asia and Australasia, led by Australia (10), China (6), and equivalently placed Thailand, India and Japan (2 each). 

This year’s festival theme ‘Catalyst’ marks WAF’s return to Asia, after a hiatus of almost a decade. The theme explores how architecture and design can be catalysts for beneficial change through enabling, accelerating and inspiring interaction across the entire built environment, to benefit both individuals and institutions. The global A&D community gathered to advance this theme through various WAF keynotes, speakers, and conversations to catalyze ideas and opportunities.

GROHE, a leading global brand for complete bathroom solutions and kitchen fittings, has supported WAF since the inception of the festival in 2008. As WAF Founding Partner, GROHE represents the unique role water plays for the design discipline and helps shape innovative architectural visions and solutions around the element of water.

GROHE affirmed this commitment with the sponsorship and awarding of the GROHE Water Prize at WAF to UArchitects. The winning proposal calls for the scaling up of ‘micro-colonies’ comprised of floating platforms in Bangladesh. The connected platforms allow for the growing of food, with a community hub created to provide services (such as education and storage) to clusters of family homes. Clean water production is of great importance for these micro-colonies, which are intended to cope with extreme weather events, combat poverty and provide a new model of how communities can address the challenges of climate change. This is the fifth time the GROHE Water Prize has been awarded, with past winners across water filtration, generation and cooling systems in Peru, Brazil and Greece.

Satoshi Konagai, Leader, LIXIL Water Technology, Asia Pacific, expressed, “Through our GROHE power brand, we are proud to be the Founding Partner of the World Architecture Festival since its 2008 inception. Over the past sixteen years, we have worked together to grow WAF into a respected global platform that attracts thousands of delegates to celebrate excellence, network and explore business opportunities over the course of the festival. We are delighted to congratulate the WAF award winners, the GROHE Water Prize winner and WAF shortlist candidates. LIXIL will continue to engage the A&D community to uplift industry excellence and address challenges, including macrotrends across health and wellbeing, sustainability and urbanization.”

“This year’s festival is especially meaningful as we are concurrently launching GROHE SPA for the Asia Pacific region. First launched at this year’s Milan Design Week, we are excited to bring GROHE SPA’s specially curated collections that can create versatile combinations for a multi-sensory, personalized showering experience. We look forward to collaborating with discerning homeowners and industry partners on unique GROHE SPA projects across the region.” Mr. Konagai added.

Paul Finch, Programme Director, WAF, said, “Congratulations to all the WAF and INSIDE award winners and shortlist candidates. Their ideas and projects are a beacon for how design can be a multi-faceted catalyst for positive change. Our return to Asia is immensely gratifying to ignite fresh ideas and relationships in and around the A&D community. We greatly appreciate the support and encouragement from GROHE, our sponsors, partners, delegates and the global A&D community.”

Ahead of the WAF main event in Singapore, the GROHE and WAF teams worked closely to strengthen industry engagement through a series of special pre-WAF events and receptions held in Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines that was enthusiastically received by the A&D community and media in each country.

Conducting 11 raids in several areas in Metro Manila, Camarines Norte, Cagayan, Sorsogon and Quirino, Solane was able to seize PHP 408,800.00 worth of LPG tanks along with marked money, transaction receipts, fake plastic seals and other items.

In Metro Manila, 53 tanks were confiscated in four different raids in Taguig City, Caloocan and Valenzuela, 23 of which came from a raid in Valenzuela City. Packs of counterfeit Solane valve seals where also recovered. 

In one raid operation in Diffun, Quirino, Solane confiscated a total of 43 tanks, as well as paraphernalia such as air compressor, spray gun, spray paint, fake plastic seals and plastic tracers. 

Two consecutive operations in Sorsogon were also conducted last Feb. 17, where 22 tanks were confiscated in Brgy Layog, Barcelona and 7 in Sorsogon City. Aside from this, 11 tanks were confiscated in raids in Camarines Norte, from the towns of San Vicente and Basud, while on Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, two counterfeit tanks were seized. 

Arrested persons and confiscated pieces of evidence were brought to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group of each local government unit for documentation and proper disposition prior to the filing of appropriate cases in court.

The recent raid operations are an extension of Solane’s long-standing efforts to stop illegal LPG at the source. In 2021, Solane was able to confiscate a total of 1,486 tanks, amounting to ₱4,012,200.

Solane reiterates call for safer homes and communities

The country’s most trusted LPG brand Solane reaffirms its pursuit of making Filipino homes and communities fire-free by cracking down on malicious sources of counterfeit and substandard LPG products. In the first two months of 2022, the Bureau of Fire Protection reported a 13% increase in fire incidents compared to the same period last year. 

Through consistently conducting raid operations nationwide, Solane seeks to reinforce the LPG Law, which calls for action against against illegal sources of LPGs. Complementing the government’s action for LPG consumer safety, Solane’s raid operations serve as immediate action against the sale of illegal LPG products by putting perpetrators behind bars and confiscating dilapidated and fake LPG tanks to prevent them from reaching unsuspecting households.

Aside from enforcing on-ground solutions, Solane also sees raid operations as an opportunity to strengthen vigilance among homes and communities by spreading awareness on the harmful consequences of using substandard or fake LPG, which run the risk of having leaks that can lead to massive fire or LPG explosion. 

Along with this, Solane reminds households and small businesses to choose only LPG products sold by authorized dealers. The entire weight of authentic filled Solane LPG tanks correspond to the total of its indicated tare weight and LPG content. 

Genuine Solane products also have quality markings on its tanks, including the registered brand name and trademark of manufacturer, standard used and test dates, serial or code number, ‘Made in the Philippines’ mark, tare weight and LPG content and expiry date. Verified Solane LPG tanks also come with a safety cap and biodegradable seal with a serial number for verification. To bring human error down to the minimum, Solane’s AS valve (de salpak) is also equipped with a snap-on auto shutoff feature. 

While being constantly on guard for dangerous sources of LPGs through its bust operations, Solane is delivering time-tested safe, sustainable and innovative LPG solutions as part of its unwavering commitment to keep Filipino kitchens, homes and communities free from fire incidents. 

Consumers may order verified Solane LPG by sending a message to 0918-887-5555 or 0917-897-7555, or to the Solane Facebook page. They can also place their orders through the Solane Mobile app.

As CHERRY takes your health and safety to the next level, it continuously introduces air purifiers that proudly come head-to-head with other choices available in the market, one of which is the Cherry Home Smart Air Purifier SAP 600. 

Similar to its predecessors, this new air purifier is capable of eliminating up to 99% of SARS-COV2 (COVID) and other airborne viruses and is similarly well-equipped with an H13 HEPA Filter. As CHERRY is committed to providing your loved ones with maximum protection, this essential is also strengthened with Washable Mesh Filter, Granular Activated Carbon Filter, and Built-In Ionizer. It efficiently keeps the air clean with a 350m³/h CADR and is capable of covering a 30 sqm room or area. 

True to its name, it can be controlled and monitored via the Cherry Home application which can be downloaded for free on your Android and iOS smartphones.  The Cherry Home Smart Air Purifier SAP 600 is currently available on a 10% discount until May 31, 2022. Get it for only P6,300 at:

Cherry Shop PH: www.cherryshop.com.ph

Since 1954, the iF Design Award has been recognized as an arbiter of quality for excellent design. The iF Design brand is renowned worldwide for outstanding design services, and the iF Design Award is one of the most important design prizes in the world. It honors design achievements in all disciplines: product, packaging, communication and service design, architecture, and interior architecture as well as professional concept, user experience (UX) and user interface (UI).

Andrew Hou, Chairman of AcerPure Inc., said, “As people are now staying at home for longer periods of time than before, AcerPure’s mission is to provide technological innovations that can truly resolve various consumer concerns. We will continue to innovate and create an acerpure home ecosystem to provide consumers with innovative living at home.”

acerpure cool is a purifier that can effectively fight against coronaviruses with an antiviral activity rate of 99% (note 2). Powerful circulating fans rotate freely upward, downward, and from left to right, to effectively purify and circulate air in an entire room, including potential blind spots. It comes with a smart home app “acerpure Life” and smart sensors to help consumers analyze indoor and outdoor air quality, detect harmful particles such as PM2.5 and formaldehyde, and then automatically switches to the most suitable purification mode to improve indoor air quality.

For more information about acerpure products, follow Acer Philippines on its social media platforms: @AcerPH on Facebook, @acerph on Instagram and @acerphils on Twitter.

Pricing and Availability

acerpure products are currently available at special promo prices. The acerpure cool is priced at Php 9,999 from Php 12,999 while the acerpure cozy and acerpure pro are priced at Php 2,999.00 and Php 8,499.00 from Php 9,999.00 and Php 4,499.00, respectively.

acerpure is available in Acer Flagship Store in SM Megamall, Acer and Predator Concept stores, authorized Acer retailers Abenson, Asianic, Complink, Emcor Gigahertz, KServico, Laser Marketing, Octagon, Robinsons Appliance, Silicon Valley, Villman, and online at https://store.acer.com/en-ph/

Please go to the official website: www.acerpure.com for product details.

1. Based on internal lab testing, the airflow distance can reach up to 12 m with turbo mode. The test results are based on the laboratory conditions; results may vary in different environments.
2. Tested by Guangdong Detection Center of Microbiology. The acerpure HEPA Plus+ Filter, tested for coronavirus (229E) with an antiviral activity rate of 99.32%. The test results are based on the laboratory conditions; results may vary in different environments.