2011 January

• • • • • A Gong Xi Fa Cai to all of you!  I was born on the year of the Dragon myself, and wish only the best in in business and health. What better way to welcome the new year (for the second time!) than to talk about the blessings we were given? And not all blessings are things that we receive; sometimes we are blessed with the opportunity to contribute, to give, to show what we can do for others.

• • • • • My first trip to Zamboanga City [»] was in the 80s, and looking back now it feels like ages ago. I made another trip again in 2010 with my good friend and interior designer Corito E. Yu, but this time we went past the city proper, all the way to the township of Titay (a good hour or so drive on a private vehicle, two on the common bus), where the the Capuchin Tertiary Order [»] has their Friendship home for orphaned girls. This was to be the site of my 3rd chapel and major project for them, the first being their worship space in their dormitory in Cebu [»] and the second in Cabug, Talisay in Bacolod [»]. 

I’ll be honest, I was a little apprehensive about this. The Philippines is a big country after all, and Cebu is blessed with its location, its weather, and its work-focused, mild-tempered but spirited people. The unpleasant things that make their way to international news (sadly overshadowing the pleasant ones) only happen to a fraction of the country. So it’s understandable for a true-blooded Cebuana to feel a bit nervous about going to an area closer to that fraction!

We were met by Sr. Incarnacion “Encar” (above, posing with the tabernacle), who presides over the orphanage in the area. A bright and bubbly nun (who is also a certified professional nurse), her role as the headmistress of the institution is priceless in the community, and many little girls from broken homes have found in her a mother and a guardian. The unsure little girl inside me was likewise placated, when we met! Over endless cups of coffee, fresh fruits and a simple but delicious lunch, we agreed on the location of the chapel.

Sr Luz Maria (seated with her back to the camera), Sister Superior of the Philippine chapter Sr Elena, and Sr Encar chat leisurely in the facility’s verandah, overlooking the garage where the communal vehicle is parked—soon to be the site of the Titay chapel.

Sr. Luz beams over our meal, reflecting the happy vibe of the place. They share their bounties graciously and without restraint, and likewise comes back to them! This is truly “attitude of gratitude” in practice.

Of course that was only the beginning, as they say, of a beautiful (but at times testing) project. I’m used to being hands-on with my work; my office desk sits directly in front of glass windows which overlook the production floor, where my pieces literally rise from the raw materials. Remote-monitoring takes a bit of getting used to! 

While architectural drawings were being done, interior details were finalized and custom furniture and light works were on hold while we had a show to do.

On paper we drew perspectives of the chapel all around, and conceptualized hanging lights. There are ‘themes’ per chapel, with bamboo for the 1st, creme+bamboo and leaves for the 2nd, and symmetrical arurog for this, the 3rd.

Construction of the chapel began, but with the help of several very generous souls who are partial to the Capuchin cause. This chapel is by and large standing because of LOVE, and open hearts. As with many things that require dedication there were snags to overcome of course. 

The lights took a bit more time to mock up.

These were the lights in the factory, when we did mock-ups to see how they would hold. The boys who worked on these at first did not understand what we meant to do with them (except our trusty draftsman, who knew from the drawings), until we raised them all up… 

and everyone took a quick step back in the deepening twilight to appreciate just how they are supposed to be… 

Bright lights are a universal symbol of hope and warmth, of welcome. In several cultures all over Asia for instance—like the Yuanxiao celebrations [»] that mark the official beginning of the Lunar New Year, the Deepavali [»] of India, Seoul’s Lantern Festival [»] and even our parols in the Christmas [»]—lanterns are publicly released at least once a year. 

I like to think that these too are lanterns, and these lights call out to all the girls in the area, who have been hurt and who need a home. I hope they will carry the message that “you are welcome” and “you can stay and be safe”, and “this can be your home if you want it.” There is a child in all of us, who is scared at least once (for example, coming to a new place), and needs light. 

The pews, of course, were likewise donated by many kind souls:

I will be posting a Part 2 of this endeavour (as they say it in Japan, otsukaresama!), mainly focusing on the interiors this time and how the sisters and I conceptualized it, in terms of not just space and ID technicalities, but also the spiritual. Also, of the magnificent Sr. Encar.