Pynky Gomez-Magsino and engineer Arturo Gayao did not knock on wood for good luck. Instead, they amassed knocked-down wood and made good business out of it.
It was in 1979 when Magsino, an anthropology graduate who delighted in collecting antiques and tribal arts, considered creating her own masterpieces from wood after her favorite antique dealer in Baguio offered her his shop, believing that she could be adept at running the business.
PNKY Collection gained popularity as Magsino and her group of artists, or “artisans” as she calls them, produced unique designs fusing primitive and modern styles. According to Magsino, a fan of Van Gogh, PNKY (the name was intentionally made to resemble “DKNY” for recall purposes) makes sure that its products are multi-functional and universal in nature.
Together with PNKY Collection, Magsino established PNKY Home, a 4-room bed and breakfast in Baguio City where all items found in it are for sale, and the PNKY Café.
“We are attracting what we call the ‘new tourists,’ those who prefer an alternative to the usual hotels they are likely to stay in,” said Magsino, who is now referred to by many as “PNKY” instead of her real name.
“And if these customers would like to check out with our lampshade or mattress as souvenir, then go ahead,” she added, “as long as they pay for the items they take home.”
Magsino is set to bring her works to the “lowlands” via a showroom in Makati set to open in September.
Wood-based products – including installation of wood parquet, staircase and balusters, built-in cabinets, French windows, doors and jambs, cornices, baseboards and other furnishings – are the specialty of Gayao’s Furniture, the 14-year-old business of Engr. Gayao.
A regular exhibitor at DTI-assisted trade, provincial and national fairs, Gayao’s was one of the Regional Award Recipients of the 1st Business Excellence Awards for SMEs 2004 given by PHILSMED. Also, it won the “Best Dressed Booth” at the PADAYA Trade Fair for two consecutive years (2002 and 2003), as well as the “Best Product Award” of the 2004 PADAYA.
The company is also active in community relations as it provides scholarships (four college and one high school) to poor and deserving students as well as training and jobs to local residents. It normally donates construction materials, too, like cement, GI sheets, steel bars, etc. to barangay projects.
“We aim to continue achieving high-end finished products at medium and reasonable cost,” Gayao said. “But we would also like to be of greater service to the rest of our fellowmen.”
On July 27, Magsino, and Gayao will be honored by Presidential Consultant for Entrepreneurship Jose Concepcion III as Inspiring Baguio Entrepreneurs, an award given by the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship as part of the Go Negosyo Teen Edition slated at Teachers Camp, Baguio City.
Teen Negosyo is part of PCE’s latest campaign, the Go Negosyo Caravan, which aims to bring Go Negosyo forums and expositions to key cities outside Metro Manila. The Caravan has already visited Cebu and Bacolod.
Teen Negosyo is a project in partnership with the Department of Education-Center for Student and Co-Curricular Affairs through the representation of its Executive Director Joey Pelaez.
Teen Negosyo is presented by Philippine Airlines, Pagcor, Globe, Hyundai, PLDT, Smart, Islands Souvenirs, Philippine Trade and Training Center, DTI-OTOP, and RFM Corp. Other partners of the event include The Philippine STAR, The Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Manila Bulletin, GMA Network Inc., RPN9, NBN4, Aspac-Law, Ideal Minds Corp., The Master’s Lighthouse Foundation, and Full Circle Communications. – Jose Rodel Clapano, Aurea Calica