Global is the Filipino

Why life is better through the lens of Bench and Suyen corporation founder and chairman Ben Chan, joining our survey on how far we have come 125 years since the Manila Bulletin took on the task as exponent of Philippine progress

My parents Chan Lib and See Ying established their company Liwayway Gawgaw in 1946. It opened after the war at a time of renewed nationalism, with a Filipino name that means “dawn” and an illustration of a woman in a Philippine terno. It was a good time to start a Filipino brand. 

When I opened my own business Bench in 1987, studied the market, learned about related businesses like Philippine fashion design and furniture, I’ve come to realize that people might love a Filipino brand but they might also put less value on Philippine-made goods compared to imported ones. “Local lang kasi or gawa lang naman dito (It’s local, made just here),” they would reason.

The market has begun to appreciate Philippine-made goods more. They are now willing to pay a premium price for piña fabric, for local embroideries, a provincial chef’s menu, a Filipino painter’s works.

In the past decade, however, with advocacies, such as “love local,” and programs like our Ternocon or Katutubo Pop-Up Market, world trends such as glocalization, social media platforms that highlight processes such as the weaving of a local fabric or a furniture craftsman’s process, the market has begun to appreciate Philippine-made goods more. They are now willing to pay a premium price for piña fabric, for local embroideries, a provincial chef’s menu, a Filipino painter’s works. 

Our local brands can compete with global names, and even small start-ups can find their local niche with their direct access through social commerce. 

Life, with hope, has become better for the Filipino designer and artisan. 

Life is brighter when rooted in local culture but with a global future.