Furniture Review: Tacloban Prevails

“Tacloban Prevails”, is a furniture exhibit by Costa Rican furniture designer, Bernardo Urbinal. The furniture collection comes from works created from the debris found in Tacloban City after the destruction of Typhoon Haiyan(codenamed ‘Yolanda’ in PHL). Fragments of wood were bought from the victims and turned into unique pieces, giving these scrap materials a second life and a bigger meaning.

Some of the common folks who helped the artist for this unique project include Melvin Ludhgco and Nestor Abilado.

Melvin is a middle-age Taclobanon who provided the artist the root of a fallen tree in his back yard. The artist then gave this gorgeous debris a new purpose, a conversational piece that could be part of your living room. This coffee table will not only get your friends and love ones attention, but will allow you to share Mr. Ludhgco’s experience with them. The combination and simplicity of the rustic root with glass fits in any environment, making it easier to be the main attraction of a living room.

Nestor Abilado is the owner of the ladder on which the unique coffee table was taken from. Nestor, an 89 year old man from Tacloban, used this ladder as part of his house before the Typhoon Haiyan hit. When the artist found this piece, it was just a scrap of wood which Nestor barely had any use for. Now the half inch glass holds the debris that survived and creates not only a coffee table but also preserves the history of Tacloban in a beautiful furniture piece.

Overall the exhibit was a success. It is always a great idea for artist to show some social responsibility and make use of one’s skill to help the less fortunate. Then, it is also a great idea and even close to magical for artist to turn something ordinary or even in this case damaged goods and make it into wonderful projects of art.

This is really what makes, “Tacloban Prevails”, the success that it is because it is showing the world that art and artists can reach a higher purpose.

People are responding to the cause and helping out. For in my last visit to the gallery works are getting sold. It is truly good news to know that artists and the community can unite for a good cause.

So to end, congratulations again to the organizers and the artist Bernardo Urbinal for showing us what great art can achieve. Congratulations also to Qube gallery for reaching a higher purpose on this exhibit. More power to you all!

About the author: N.M. CABANGBANG graduated Bachelor of Fine Arts Major in Painting at University of the Philippines Cebu. He is now currently teaching grade 6 – 10 Art at B.R.I.G.H.T. Academy. He also plays the bass and sings for the band – PALTIK.