The revival of the Katha Awards in the 49th April edition of Manila F.A.M.E. International has again put the genius of Filipino design in the spotlight.

Katha, in Filipino parlance, means “one’s creation." It serves as a hallmark of Philippine design excellence. The Awards held April 16 at the One Esplanade, Mall of Asia, recognized product design and innovation that combine the ideals of form and function.

Since its launching in 1983, the Katha Awards has sought to inspire and challenge exporters as well as designers to constantly innovate and develop designs and products for export.

Award categories include Best Product Design in Holiday Décor, Furniture, Gifts, Houseware, Lumina, and Fashion Accessories and Best Booth Display. A new category, Eco-Luxury, recognizes companies and products that observe environmental consciousness through the use of recyclable or sustainable alternative materials in the product and packaging while maintaining its aesthetic quality and compliant to the standards Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

For the Special Citation Awards, the organizer of the event which is the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry had a separate set of juries composed of present and former employees from Hardgoods, Softgoods, Exhibition and Design, and Creative Services Divisions. Winners were given a trophy and two thousand pesos in cash for the Award Categories and Special Citation Awards.

For the April 2009 Manila F.A.M.E. showcase, the judges were Architects Amado de Jesus, Jr. and Rogelio Caringal, fashion designer Rajo Laurel, METRO Magazine editor-in-chief Katrina Holigores, People Asia’s art director Jean Tatum Ancheta, and Architect Ed Calma who also served as chairman of the Board of Judges.

The winner for Best Product Design in the Home Furnishings Category was the Golden Sheik Chair by Maze Manufacturing Company, Inc. The chair exemplifies a fine aesthetic that reflects unique form and function. It acts as a chair but possesses an original design to behold.

Judith Manarang, the owner and designer of Maze admits completing the chair barely a few days before the Manila F.A.M.E. “I had a hard time looking for the right fabric and suddenly just days before the event, I almost gave up.”

The Best Product Design in the Holiday Décor Category went to the Holiday Wreath from Accent Pieces. The wreath transforms a traditional holiday piece into a beautiful accent piece made of recycled material that fires up the imagination.

Complementary lighting and maximized use of space made MCCA Industrial Corporation’s booth display the winner in Best Booth Design.  The MCCA Booth exemplified intelligent use of space design enabling visitors to appreciate the breadth and depth of the company’s products.

Miguel Aguas, president of MCCA said that the way his products of mirrors and wall sculptures were lighted, highlighting the items on display, bagged him the award.

In the new category of Eco-Luxury Award, the recognition went to Nature’s Legacy for their environmental friendly Marvey Wall Art. A wall décor made out of recycled paper colored and some are embellished in resin to give that shiny look. The whole piece can be disassembled and assembled.  In the Special Citations Awards, the Best Homegrown Exhibitor Award was given to First Binhi Crafts.

The last category but the highlight of the Awards is the Hall of Fame awardees given to past Katha Awardees who have received at least five Best Product Design and/or Best Booth Display Awards.

The distinction is given to D.A. International, First Binhi, Evolve Designs, GSG Industries, Locsin International, MCCA, Mind Masters, Inc., Papelan, Team International, The Gilded Expressions, Kaizenhouse, and Nouel Pelayo Resella.

Manila F.A.M.E. International is the longest running trade show in Asia and the only trade fair recognized by Union Des Foires Internationales (UFI), the union of the world’s leading tradeshow organizers, fairground owners, and major international associations from the exhibitions industry.