Trish Panlilio keeps it to the letter

An e-mail is a potential minefield when written in haste, in the throes of emotion, or at 1 a.m., when one is possibly drunk. I installed Google e-mail “goggles” on my G-mail account to prevent me from sending badly worded missives that I would regret the next day. When the hour is late, the app won’t let the letter leave port until you’re able to perform a series of mathematical problems to prove you are of sound mind. If not, water and bed for you. Naturally I got around this by using a calculator, which defeated the purpose of the goggles, but the point is made: write mindfully. Taking pen to a piece of paper will give you pause, and make you think before you commit to ink. When it’s no big deal to shoot out an e-mail or an e-vite, a hand-lettered note or a customized card makes it all the more memorable.

Trish Panlilio also believes that some things are better left written. Her love affair with stationery began when she was a child. “My dad took me to New York as a little girl, and he brought me to Hallmark. Since then, it was something I cherished and carried as a passion.” The former gal about town and known style icon has retired from the public eye of late, and instead of attending the opening of every envelope, Trish now makes the envelope. Papillo came to Trish by surprise — the business actually belonged to a friend who had grown tired and offered to sell it to her. “Being the non-business person that I am, I saw this as a sign, a good sign that perhaps it was fated and about time to turn my passion into a small business.”

The youngest daughter of the late jeweler Fe Panlilio belongs to a very creative and artistic family (niece Bea Valdes is an internationally renowned bag and jewelry designer, New York-based nephew Martin Valdes is a writer) and her venture into fine papery seems a natural fit for her, as she’s always been the type of person who indulges in doing everything on her own. Planning her three boys’ birthday parties, Trish would do the invitations by craft and would personally wrap presents in non-traditional ways. “With this stationery business, I am given the chance to play with my creativity,” she says. “It is a woven process that combines color, words, and thought.”

Papillo’s paper, notepads, gift sets, ribbons, and luggage tags will thrill the most obsessive compulsive note maker with their whimsical and charming designs, which are true to Trish’s vibrant fashion spirit. The art of writing is something she hopes to encourage in other people. She herself writes notes every day, and keeps a small pad that says “Trish’s thoughts” by her bedside. She shares, “I write my kids little notes of encouragement or love, a thank-you note to someone who brightened my day, and endearing whispers handwritten to Ricardo, my boyfriend.”

* * *

For inquiries call 0918-9369854 or visit www.papillofinestationers.com