THE Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation (CFIF) and the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry and the Province of Cebu, launched Cebu Design Week (CDW) as a platform for new and seasoned designers to collaborate, unify, and intensify Cebu's design reputation and identity as a creative city. CDW aims to showcase diverse creative disciplines such as fashion and accessories, furniture, graphic design, fine arts, and culinary arts, present opportunities to work with different design groups and generate strategies for Cebu's future development while preserving Cebuano heritage and traditional craftsmanship. CDW will hold a series of events set on June16­22 which includes the Spartan Race and CDW Opening Festival at Foressa Mountain Town, Balamban and Bojo River Eco Tour in Aloguinsan on June 16.There will also be weeklong exhibitions at Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and the Mactan Cebu International Airport Terminal 2, Art Installations and Artisanal Market in Museo Sugbo, Design Workshops at A Space Cebu, MATIC and Asmara, The Cebu Business Month Innovation Summit at Waterfront Cebu, and Garden Installations and Green Mango Awards and Creative Festival at Shangri­La's Mactan Island Resort and Spa on June 22. "The initial concept is that CDW is going to be a creator's market we are not accepting sellers but we want people to make their own product," said Issa Cancio of CFIF. "We're providing young designers with a space to gain experience so that Cebu will have its own pool of designers," said Nannette Arbon, DTI Provincial Director."We're giving ourMSMEs product development and access to designers and at the same time, exposing our young designers to the field and helping them deal with MSMEs," added Arbon. For inquiries and registration, visit www.facebook.com/cebudesignweek/. 

[Caryll Arcayan]

This article was originally published on May 19, 2018 in the Cebu News Daily.