material are cheap, Stijweg decided to design and manufacture all of the pieces that will be sold locally.

"You have a very rich country where people can design things very well—in fact some of the best in Asia," Stijweg says. "The people here are very creative. I wish to support them."

Catering primarily to the hospitality industry and with a slight focus on the residential market, Suniture has an extensive line of outdoor furniture composed of sun loungers, patio umbrellas, director chairs, and outdoor tables, among others. The pieces available in the showroom located in Arnaiz Ave. in Makati City—with their woven materials and curvaceous designs—look as though they came from furniture exporters from Cebu. The designing and the manufacturing are, in fact, based in Cebu, boosting the local economy and the world-class prestige of what is touted to be the Milan of Asia.

Cebu’s reputation as a design and manufacturing haven and the Philippines’ high standing in the global furniture industry is not news to Stijweg. "I know the Philippines very well," he smiles. "It’s part of my long 25-year history in Asia so I know that there is a good opportunity in furniture for the Philippines to be successful."

Not all of the components of a Suniture piece are locally sourced. For one, the company prides itself for integrating the outdoor fabric Sunbrella, manufactured in the United States, into all of its products—from sun lounger cushions to bean bags to pillows. The synthetic material called "viro," woven to create textured surfaces, comes from abroad and yet is meant to mimic strips of rattan.

One of the characteristics of outdoor furniture, says Stijweg, is they should be long-lasting. Thus, Suniture didn’t compromise on the fabric and had to seek the famous fabric supplier for its requirement. "Sunbrella doesn’t fade and change color," he describes. "Second, it’s easy to clean. Because of these two aspects, it’s durable. For the hotel and resort industry, they want a fabric that can last for three to five years…Another thing is that Sunbrella has a huge color range. One hotel would like to have some blue and one hotel would like to have yellow. Everyone has their own little color."

Weather-resistant and low-maintenance they may be, the materials used in Suniture’s pieces are actually environment-friendly and recyclable. Sunbrella for one, as a corporate entity, commits itself to "the continued delivery of the finest performance outdoor, decorative and industrial fabrics in a manner that will minimize the impact on our communities, environment, and resource stream…"

The Dutch national states that this is an opportune time for him to enter the Philippine market, considering that tourism is on the upswing, which calls for more resorts, hotels and lodges to be built. "There’s a big influx of tourism coming to fantastic areas here which are in competition with Phuket and Bali," he says. "After 10 to 15 years, the Philippines is capitalizing in its infrastructure for tourism. The rest of the world can pay up to 700 US dollars a night for beautiful hospitality arrangements. You (Filipinos) have it all at your (doorstep) so make use of it."

Stijweg clarifies that though the hospitality industry is Suniture’s main target market, homeowners who have "great residential areas with beautiful outdoor arrangements and terraces" can also drop by the company’s showroom to check on the products. As the furniture is not mass-produced, clients can opt for a particular color for the fabric or the material for the weaving that will suit their taste and needs.

Serious in his commitment to provide top-of-the-line outdoor furniture for those who will need them, Stijweg, however, doesn’t simply want to be a supplier. He wants to develop local talent by giving scholarships to deserving students who want to pursue a design course and may not otherwise afford it. As early as now, he is also preparing a Suniture exhibit at Manila NOW, one of the most important design showcases in the region, and let the brand sit alongside other great furniture companies from the Philippines.

At the end of the interview, Stijweg gently admonishes, "Be proud of your country, okay?" You smile because you know he means it.