Here’s a house that says: Buy Filipino

A couple of years ago, our friends decided to build their dream house for their growing family of seven healthy and happy children. It was to be a sprawling state-of-the-art house with all the amenities a modern affluent family deserves. Like several bathrooms (so you don’t hear anyone shouting, "Get out of there, I really need to go NOW!" especially if it’s a big family), spacious kitchens (yes, that is plural), comfortable and interesting bedrooms, a gym to keep everyone happy, healthy and fit, a home office with the latest, next-generation 3G (is that an oxymoron?) office paraphernalia. Basically, a house that you show off to magazines, not one you make excuses for.

For this truly precious home, the couple decided to source their finishing materials and furniture from the best suppliers, which eventually led them to the USA (where else, of course, being typical Filipinos?) So they went, they saw, they conquered, blazing a path through various furniture dealers and shops. And sure enough, thanks to the (slightly overpriced) miracle that is FedEx, the various containers arrived and the beautiful home accessories and furniture were unloaded. Happy ending, right? Well, not exactly.

Shortly after this endeavor, a business trip was made to Cebu. Certainly, a day devoted to shopping was part of the itinerary. Interestingly, Cebu seemed to abound in home accessories and unbelievably fabulous furniture. And then came the crowning moment: They found a furniture store in some tiny town down south, which had the exact same pieces they had just bought in the States.

How many of us have had this uncanny (sad, horrid, very ironic) experience of finding ourselves purchasing something in New York, Paris or London – a luxury item, something you want to take home and show off to everybody you meet on the street because it was just so damn special, something that screamed "I am quality!" – and then finding the tag "Made in the Philippines" tucked in the fold of the garment, seam or bottom of the item?

Well, dear Filipino buyers, beware! Look before you part with your hard-earned greenbacks when on a trip. Of course, you may argue that you can’t buy those things here anyway because they are "bonded" – they’re only for export and you can’t afford them. In this day and age of World Trade Country (WTC) memberships and the GATT (General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs), our country – no matter how third world or developing it is – is fast becoming part of this one world. And purchasing products on Madison Avenue or on Faubourg St. Honore could just as well be done in Shangri-La Mall or even in Megamall.

So let’s go home. Let’s talk about home accessories and furniture. Enter Mejore Woodworks, Incorporated, founded by Joselito Ong, a businessman who was primarily in the logging and lumber business. Ong decided to create wood-based products, making ample use of Filipino craftsmanship. Like most local manufacturers, Ong set his eyes on the export market.

The company started off simply enough, crafting things such as doors, window frames, outdoor furniture, etc. But this was not enough for Ong and his company. They began to expand their offerings to selections such as complete English dining room collections, and started competing in international shows such as FAME and the High Point show in the United States.

Their craftsmanship drew stares at the shows. From there, Mejore was able to establish contacts with furniture experts, buy special equipment from Europe, and hone their competitive edge.

Unfortunately, in February 1991, the company’s main manufacturing facility, offices and main showroom were burned to the ground. But the company started all over again from scratch and, despite the difficulties, was determined to get back on its feet. In order to compensate for its loss in export sales, Mejore entered the furniture contract market.

Today, Mejore is alive and well, receiving orders from such prestigious clients as Makati Shangri-La Hotel, Manila Peninsula, and Renaissance New World.

Certainly, Mejore gives us an exquisite excuse to buy Filipino.