Phl booth wins award at Yeosu Expo

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine pavilion was named Best Exhibit in the Small Pavilion Category in the Exhibitor magazine awards as the 2012 Yeosu Expo in South Korea draws to a close today.

The pavilion design was done by Utwentysix, a new design studio composed of Stephanie Sy, Deo Alam and Jonathan Kim Jimenez.

In keeping with the expo theme of oceans, Sy said the main inspiration for the pavilion was corals.

“We are located at the apex of the Coral Triangle and claim Center of the Center of shore fish diversity globally! We wanted the world to know that we may be a developing country but our natural resources and marine life are unrivaled anywhere else in the world,” said Sy.

“Furthermore, corals are complex structures that multiply and grow in interwoven forms. They are the perfect embodiment of the Filipino identity – a complex woven tapestry of the sea and our coasts,” she added.

Sy explained that the façade was designed to appear like a sculptural three-dimensional interpretation of a coral wall. From afar, the various hard coral pore sizes mimic the silvery dots found on the back of a whale shark or butanding, one of the Philippines’ most successful eco- tourism attractions and also the key character of the animation journey inside.

Much of the features of the pavilion are made of recycled materials, including the four pods suspended from the ceiling that mimic glowing corals. Visuals of marine life are projected onto the pods’ floors, and each pod is encircled with a ring of sand sourced from different regions, creating the feeling of island hopping as visitors go around Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The fourth pod is dedicated to biodiversity and conservation, and has sand from Guimaras, which is a recipient of the Yeosu Fund.

The walls made of abaca allow visitors to watch videos about Philippine dive spots and conservation efforts. They can also download QRCs about traveling to myriad tourist spots and learn about our rich marine life.

An animated projection of a fisherman sailing to the horizon beckons visitors to join him. A butanding leads visitors to the cluster of islands as it swims from the cinema wall to each of the four pods.

“The cinema wall offers images that unfold the breadth of the Philippines’ cultural wealth, marine bounties and its coexistence with coastal activities, captured by the collage of visuals of the diving community with an invitation advocating a ‘Protect and Share’ approach. The main feature replicates an enchanting passage through the archipelago while drawing attention to fun and responsible tourism as the country’s answer to the challenges of creating a Living Ocean for generations to come. Complementing the production is a fun-filled visual of tourism activities emphasizing the Philippine fun brand of sustainable travel,” Sy said.

The gift shop is aptly called the Fisherman’s Basket as it mimics the spherical woven baskets used by local fisherfolk. The designers are justifiably proud of their design, and the honor it has brought to the country despite a limited budget. Sy said, “We got to play with materials in unusual ways and were extremely proud of our local artisans who were able to do justice to our designs and make our vision a reality... but more importantly, we were chosen to represent our country.”

Over half a million people visited the Philippine pavilion during the three months of the expo.