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The House of Abaca

The newly-furnished home of Grace Relucio Princesa, the Philippine ambassador to the UAE, is a showcase of some of the best Philippine home-grown products woven into the furniture, curtains, house decor and her accoutrement.

Proudly showing off the tastefully-decorated interiors of the Maharlika House (House of Nobility) in Abu Dhabi, Princesa, who is fitted into an abaca fibre and silk outfit befitting a native royal, speaks about her country’s natural produce and how spurring demand abroad could stimulate local micro-economic development.

“The Philippines is the top producer of abaca, which is considered the strongest of all natural fibres,” she says.

Internationally known as Manila hemp, the banana-like plant is indigenous to the Philippines, which supplies 85 per cent of the world’s requirement for raw abaca fibres.

Abaca fibre is obtained from the leaf sheath and considered three times stronger than cotton; its fat content is more resistant to salt water decomposition, making abaca suitable for the production of specialty papers, a good substitute for wood pulp and useful in composites for automobile parts.

Abaca fibre is used in the manufacturing of cordage, ropes and twines; pulp and specialty paper, including meat casings, tea bags, currency paper and cheques; textile/fabrics; and furniture.

Espie Cabrera, furniture and interior designer from Creative Pilipinas, explains the finer points of the abaca furniture. “Abaca is very flexible, versatile and can easily set into a shape. Seventy per cent of those pieces on showcase here are made out of abaca combined with metal or with abaca laminated strips,” she says pointing to a large 
sectional sofa, dining chairs for 14 
people, carpet, candle holders, a wicker cup and a lounge chair entirely woven in abaca.

A four-square piece wall sculpture dominating a wall in the dining room is made of metal with abaca accent, while the buffet table is made of wood laminated with abaca.

“Abaca typifies the Filipinos — strong, versatile and exceptional,” compares Princesa.

In addition to abaca, narra wood and rattan are also featured well on the chairs, tables and sculptures. A bar made of narra is laminated with bamboo, and other decors are made of coco and mother of shells.

Meanwhile, the overhead lamps are made of capiz (seashell) in white, yellow and orange colours and make a light tinkling sound with the breeze. “This showcases world-class Filipino creativity and products... We can combine and come-up with unique designs using 
our indigenous material,” says the ambassador.

According to the Philippines Fibre Industry Development Authority (FIDA), the abaca industry is one of the country’s major sources of foreign exchange earnings and employment generation, with annual average export earnings of US$81 million from abaca raw fibres and manufacturers.

The importing countries include Japan, China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Australia, UK, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, US, Canada and the UAE.

Abaca is grown in 51 provinces in the Philippines, including those places where many Filipina overseas workers come from. By stimulating demand abroad, Princesa hopes to create an opportunity for women to stay and work in the country, thus minimising feminised migration.

“Then migration will be by choice and not out of desperation,” she explains.

Princesa plans to spur the demand by showcasing the abaca furniture and textiles to the diplomatic community 
in the UAE, entrepreneurs and residents at large. She also plans to tap the oil and gas sector to use the abaca cordage in oil rigs.

And for its environmental advantage, Princesa says she will tie up with local authorities and reach out to UAE-based Filipino schools.

The Maharlika House will be open for public viewing after Ramadan, but interested individuals need to schedule with the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi by calling 02-6415922.

Prices of the furniture on display range from Dh2,500 — Dh12,500 (P30,000 — P150,000).

olivia@khaleejtimes.com