| Magsino and Gayao |
Working wonders out of woodPynky Gomez-Magsino and Engr. Arturo Gayao did not knock on wood to keep a good fortune. Instead, they amassed knocked down wood and made business.  It was in 1979 when Magsino, an anthropology graduate who delighted in collecting items from the antique and tribal arts, considered creating her own masterpieces from wood. The idea sank in after her favorite antique dealer in Baguio offered her his shop, believing that she was much adept in running such business.Since then PNKY Collection started gaining popularity as it produced unique designs boasting of a fusion of primitive and modern styles, courtesy of Magsino and her group of artists, which she calls by choice as “artisans.” According to Magsino, a fan of Van Gogh, PNKY (the name was intended to have a semblance with “DKNY” for recall purposes) also makes sure that its products are multi-functional and universal in nature. Together with PNKY Collection, Magsino established the PNKY Home, an extraordinary 4-room bed and breakfast in Baguio City wherein all items found in it are for sale, and the PNKY Café. “We are attracting what we call as the ‘new tourists,’ those who prefer an alternative to the usual hotels they would likely stay in,” said Magsino, who is now casually being referred to by many as “PNKY” instead of her real name. “And if these customers would like to check out with our lampshade or mattress as souvenir, then so be it,” she added, “as long as they pay for the items they’d like to take home.” Magsino is set to showcase her works in a showroom in Makati which will open on September. Wood-based products including installation of wood parquet, staircase and balusters, built-in cabinets, French windows, doors and jambs, cornices, baseboards and other furnishings are the specialty of Gayao’s Furniture, the 14-year-old business of Engr. Gayao.  A regular exhibitor of DTI-assisted trade fairs, provincial to national fairs, Gayao's was one of the Regional Award Recipient of the 1st Business Excellence Awards for SMEs 2004 given by PHILSMED. Also, it was awarded two times during its attendance to the PADAYA Trade Fair in two consecutive years (2002 and 2003) as "Best Dressed Booth" and was awarded the "Best Product Award" in the Padaya 2004.The company is also active in community relations as it provides scholarships (4 colleges and 1 high school) to poor and deserving students as well as jobs and trainings to local residents. It normally donates construction materials, too, like cement GI sheets, steel bars, etc. to barangay projects. “We aim to continue achieving high-end finished products at medium and reasonable cost,” Gayao said. “But we would also like to be of greater service to the rest of our fellow men.” On July 27, Magsino, and Gayao will be honored by Presidential Consultant for Entrepreneurship Jose Concepcion III as an Inspiring Baguio Entrepreneur, an award given by the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship as part of the Go Negosyo Teen Edition slated at Teachers Camp, Baguio City. Teen Negosyo is part of PCE’s latest campaign, the Go Negosyo Caravan, which aims to bring Go Negosyo forums and expositions in key cities outside Metro Manila. The Caravan has already visited Cebu and Bacolod. Teen Negosyo is a project in partnership with the Department of Education-Center for Student and Co-Curricular Affairs through the representation of its Executive Director Joey Pelaez. Teen Negosyo is presented by Philippine Airlines, PAGCOR, Globe, Hyundai, PLDT, Smart, Islands Souvenirs, Philippine Trade and Training Center, DTI-OTOP, and RFM Corporation. Other partners of the event include The Philippine Star, The Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Manila Bulletin, GMA Network Inc., RPN9, NBN4, Aspac-Law, Ideal Minds Corporation, The Master’s Lighthouse Foundation, and Full Circle Communications. |
