I started designing and creating bags when I was 18, as a mere hobby. Initially, I had only created a few bags for myself to use in school. When friends and classmates started asking where the bags were available for purchase, I then toyed with the idea of designing and selling a few. Before I knew it, I was already taking orders and delivering bags in between classes. I then began to join various bazaars and events where my products could get exposure. After a while, several local magazines and newspapers took notice resulting in a number of feature articles about my products. Since then, my passion for design allowed me to expand my range of products. From a small line of day bags, I now also create laptop bags, evening purses and also dabble in designing bridal purses.

My designs are fun, eclectic, and have a bespoke quality to them. My designs are also largely influenced by the materials I use. I love creating bags with an inventive mix of materials and textures, such as combining the lux quality of semi-precious stones and satin with the earthy touch of kamagong wood clasps. Through my designs, I am also able to promote the beautiful materials native to the Philippines such as mother-of-pearl, wood, bamboo, and sabutan.

One design nightmare I experienced was back when I was still starting and still had no network of trusted suppliers. I had given my designs to a bag manufacturer, who promised to create the samples for me. To my horror, I found out that they created my designs and sold them to a large local chain of department stores a week before our agreed deadline. It was an awful experience which taught me to protect myself and my work and also opened my eyes to the reality of business.

In an atmosphere where the global economic downturn has largely influenced the buying behavior of consumers, I consider myself lucky to be able to thrive and manage to keep my small business afloat through the creation of thoughtfully designed and well-crafted products. I also consider it my greatest achievement to be able to continually offer products which showcase the beauty and potential of Philippine-made materials which customers repeatedly support.