Stepping into his high-rise flat somewhere in Makati, one can’t help but literally leave the hustle and bustle of the city and enter another world where serenity reigns and the past begins. Like amateur archeologists, we marveled at the "artifacts" scattered around. Each item has a story to tell, and a lot of them were gifts from loved ones and friends.
The first thing that will attract a visitor’s attention is the imposing wooden armoire from Bali, one of the few things that Jie himself purchased. It’s probably the most expensive piece in the whole house, says Jie, whose fascination for anything Balinese is also evident in the number of metal and wooden birdcages, ethnic-looking wooden dolls and Balinese dancers, as well as red batik pillowcases in Jie’s room that seem to reflect the famous Manila Bay sunset, of which he has a view from his sixth-floor bedroom window. Why, there’s even a cute elephant door stopper a friend got for him from Bali. Oh, lest we forget, the house has a resident Balinese cat, Obi.
The Balinese resort-inspired look, however, is interspersed with things local: a pair of antique Ifugao chairs that echo a rich cultural past; a center table reproduction from Vigan that speaks of Old-World charm; a twisted ladder he bought from Baguio for a song; placemats made of twigs, sawali, and jusi; a pair of banga that also double as a side table and container for Christmas decor, to name a few.
The eclectic charm doesn’t end there. Also dotting the house are bric-a-brac such as an antique-looking hand sculpture of a mudra (a symbolic hand gesture of Buddha), a collection of copper ware and coal containers Jie got from a flea market in the US, a corner lamp he bought in a tiangge at BF Homes for P60, wicker and wrought-iron chairs he first had in 1993, a pair of Mexican tribal masks, and candleholders that are remnants of his production design days.
The place may be small – a mere 77-sq.m. irregular-shaped pad – but it’s filled with good memories from Jie’s past. A quick peek into his bedroom, for instance, reveals childhood treasures such as stuffed toys he was gifted with. A curious item on his bedroom shelf is a pair of life-size ballet shoes. When queried on this, Jie explains, "I danced ballet for 10 years and was even sent by our church group to Germany in 1997 to dance. Our group also performed for the late Pope John Paul II during the World Youth Day in 1995. The ballet shoes were given to me by my sister and I had them bronzed and there they are."
Surprised? Well, there’s more to Jie’s tastes than meets the eye.
Despite his home’s Asian look, one can still spot a previous love affair with Egyptian stuff. Along the hallway leading to Jie’s bedroom are framed Egyptian prints that used to decorate his old residence a few years back.
"I’ve always been fascinated with Egypt and I even have a collection of papyrus scrolls given to me by friends and my students," says the art history teacher of PSID. Such is his love for history that whenever he visits a museum, the first place he’ll go is the antiquities section. "I’m a fan of Indiana Jones," he says with a smile. The thirtysomething UST Psychology graduate and former medical student, in fact, is just a few months’ short of a master’s degree in cultural heritage. A quick glance at his bookshelf reveals a love of art, culture, history, and fantasy. He particularly treasures A Soul Book, a book on Filipino mythology given to him as a gift. Ironically, what calms him after a stressful day is Robert Jordan’s Lord of Chaos (he’s now on Book 6). A recent hobby which further de-stresses him is his aquariums – one is stationed in his workplace and another serves as a headboard in his bedroom.
"This is who I am... very earthy, very sensual and warm," says Jie. He and fellow interior designer and best friend of 22 years Lou Quijano wanted a "not-so-common color to complement the wooden features of the flat." So they chose the very subtle caramel theme and the result is a warm, relaxing and cozy mood all over. Well, except for Lou’s bedroom which has a bright and cheery tropical look.
But the differences end there. Both Jie and Lou took on the challenge to make their home as welcoming as it is now. Both of them love to collect Asian pieces. Both love to entertain friends for dinner with Jie manning the kitchen and whipping up goodies like his famous seafood in cheese asparagus sauce and spinach fettuccini.
"As you can see, my kitchen, or any other part of the house, is not a showroom, but a well-lived, cozy place for people to relax and unwind," he says.
Jie is not too keen on following trends. As far as he’s concerned, interior design is more a matter of taste and preference. "I like texture. When I took a personality test in connection with PSID’s exhibit, I found out that I have a very sensual personality."
Aptly so, this year’s PSID exhibit, now in its 38th year, reflects Jie’s views about interior designing. Dubbed "PSID Gets Personal," the exhibit will feature 22 specially designed booths divided into six "design personality" categories. These are Laid-back, Sensual, Pure, Urban, Bohemian and Wild.
Says Jie, "Every room in the house, every space, reflects facets of the owner’s personality. From the color scheme to the fabrics used, the furniture choices down to accessories and floral arrangements, they speak about the person’s history, temper, mood, personality and taste." Lou, as reflected in her choices, is obviously the laid-back type, while Jie is the sensual with a touch of the bohemian.
Jie’s passion for the past is not lost on his students. "I’m happy that my students know the importance of history. I impart to them my views, they absorb it, and put it into practice."
Jie admits that this preference will definitely change over the years. In the meantime, he’ll enjoy every minute of his Balinese phase. One thing remains constant – he’ll never be caught dead following a fad. Let trends pass him by, he’s quite satisfied following his own style.