APEC souvenir: ‘Sama-sama’ sculpture

MANILA, Philippines - Limited edition sculptures featuring communities grouped around island formations representing member-economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) will be the Philippines’ souvenir tokens for leaders attending the Leaders’ Summit next week.

Called “Sama-sama” (together), the sculptures were created by world-renowned industrial designer Kenneth Cobonpue. 

The sculptures are made of brass and finished in yellow gold, pale silver and warm copper, symbolizing different races. The detailed figures are linked to each other as they ascend to the top, “towards the heavens,” Cobonpue said in a statement released by Malacañang.

The Palace said the sculptures are a visual narrative of the APEC community’s cultural, social and political diversity and “represent unity, partnership and cooperation among the member economies.”

Each glass-covered token is housed in a hand-woven metal and buri (palm spine) carrying case with brass handles and clasp. The island formations are made from laser-cut metal sheets and wood veneer. 

Aside from creating the souvenir tokens, Cobonpue was tapped to be the creative director for the APEC leaders’ welcome reception at the MOA Arena where the dinner for the leaders would be held.

According to Cobonpue, rice terraces inspired his vision for the set design.

“I wanted to transform the whole space into a huge outdoor garden,” he said. “Part of the challenge was how to transform the coldness and immensity of the arena and turn it into something that’s warm and cozy.”

To achieve this effect, a grassy circular stage will be set up in the middle of the arena and colorful anahaw leaf-inspired designs will be hung from the ceiling.

The APEC leaders’ chairs will also contribute to this garden-like atmosphere, as they are based on Cobonpue’s Yoda chair design, which is inspired by blades of grass.

“Probably my most iconic and well-known piece, the original Yoda chair does not have armrests or wheels. The ones to be used by the economic leaders, however, will have both. I designed the Yoda chair to swivel because the program was going to happen over 360 degrees. It was important for the leaders to be able to swivel their chair so that they could follow the program,” Cobonpue said.

“The beauty about that chair is you lean back on the rattan reeds, and the natural tensile strength of the rattan supports your back,” he added.

Cobonpue said the main challenge in creating the set design was to project the image of a global Filipino.

“What I always find challenging is to still use natural materials and natural themes, and to make it sophisticated – to show that we are rooted in the past but we are right in the 21st century,” he explained.

“I think it’s really important…to showcase the best of who we are and what we are. And we do that with the program, and all the little details that make up the whole welcome dinner,” he added.

Cobonpue said it was a fun and satisfying project overall. 

“I’m very proud of the outcome. How I wish everybody could be in that space, because it’s really unique and wonderful,” he added.

Malacañang said an exhibit of world-class Filipino products will be held at the International Media Center (IMC) at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

“We also have items that can be bought and taken home as souvenirs. It is said that the way to make an event most memorable is to give the people who experience it a tangible memento of that event. And so therefore, the souvenirs that are being exhibited – the handicrafts, the excellent work of Filipino artisans that are here – will serve as a memento of the unique experience that is APEC 2015 in the Philippines,” Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a message during the opening of the IMC.

He also said the products being exhibited are manifestations of how the country was endeavoring to build an inclusive economy. “And this is also a showcase of why, as host, the Philippines has chosen the theme: Building Inclusive Economies and Building a Better World.”

Earlier, the Palace released photos of the different Barong Tagalog designs that President Aquino would give as gifts for leaders to wear during the summit.

The outfits were created by designer Paul Cabral, who began working on the project in April as soon as he was notified that his submission won the bidding.