Philippine craftsmanship has found a striking showcase in the heart of New York City.
At the Philippine Center on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, a curated selection of furniture, lighting, home décor, and accessories by Filipino manufacturers and exporters is giving global audiences a closer look at the elegance, versatility, and soul of contemporary Philippine design.
Named Likhang Filipino, the window display opened on May 4 and will run until September 30, 2026. Since its launch, the exhibition has attracted hundreds of visitors from the design, architecture, and trade communities, drawing attention to the distinct character of Filipino-made products.
The showcase brings together pieces that are elegant, rustic, modern, functional, and unmistakably rooted in craft. Using a range of materials and design approaches, the display highlights how Philippine makers continue to bridge tradition and innovation while responding to the demands of the global design market.
Featured in the exhibition are 11 Philippine exporters representing furniture, furnishings, décor, and accessories.
The furniture and furnishings segment includes A. Garcia Lifestyle, Inc., Fifty One All Weather, Filipino Creazione, Mejore, South Sea Veneer, and Tadeco.
The décor and accessories section features Aerostone, Larone, Nature’s Legacy, That One Piece, and Weave Manila.
Mounted by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions, the exhibition forms part of continuing efforts to bring Philippine products closer to international buyers, industry stakeholders, and global audiences.
Its location is itself part of the statement. Set along Fifth Avenue, one of the world’s most important commercial and cultural corridors, Likhang Filipino gives Philippine design brands a strategic platform to build visibility, strengthen their market presence, and create new business opportunities in the United States.
For CITEM Executive Director Leah Pulido-Ocampo, bringing the showcase to New York was a deliberate move to deepen the country’s presence in the American market.
“Bringing Likhang Filipino to New York is a strategic move to establish our foothold in the US market, complementing our participation in the world’s largest home furnishings industry tradeshow, the High Point Market in North Carolina,” Pulido-Ocampo said.
The initiative has also opened possibilities for future collaborations between Philippine manufacturers and the International Furnishings and Design Association.
More than a product display, Likhang Filipino serves as a cultural and trade statement. It reflects the Philippines’ growing reputation as a source of finely crafted, globally competitive, and design-driven products.
The exhibition also celebrates the country’s rich tradition of craftsmanship, where handwork, material knowledge, and creative experimentation continue to shape pieces that can stand beside the best in the international marketplace.
The May 4 launch was led by Consul General Senen T. Mangalile and Trade Commissioner Alma Argayoso, together with CITEM representatives Anna Marie Alzona and Karla Grace Dinglasan.
They were joined by consultants Tony Gonzales, International Furnishings and Design Association President Dondrill Glover, and Global Trend Ambassador Patti Carpenter.
With the current exhibition running until the end of September, CITEM is already preparing for the next chapter of the showcase. A Christmas Holiday edition of Likhang Filipino is scheduled to open in October 2026, promising another opportunity to present Philippine creativity to New York audiences.
As more satellite shows are planned in different parts of the world, Likhang Filipino continues to carry a clear message: Philippine design is not only ready for the global stage. It is already there.
The Likhang Filipino Exhibition Halls is a project of the Office of the President, managed and operated by CITEM.