PASAY CITY, Philippines — The next generation of Filipino interior design creatives took center stage as students from the College of Architecture and Design’s Interior Design program at Enderun Colleges unveiled their compelling exhibition, The Palimpsest: In the Afterimage of Time. This innovative, student-led showcase was held at the vibrant S Maison, Main Atrium, in Pasay City, Metro Manila, from May 15 to 19, 2026.

The exhibit brought together representatives from government agencies, organizations, and industry partners, such as delegates from the Commission on Higher Education, the Professional Regulation Commission – Board of Interior Design, the Philippine Institute of Interior Designers, and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), highlighting the increasing support for design education and the Philippine creative industries.

More Than a Showcase: A Philosophy of Innovation

For Dr. Cecile Hufana, Program Head of Interior Design at Enderun Colleges, the exhibit was more than just a display of student work; it reflected the program’s core philosophy of fostering originality and innovation among emerging designers.

“We want to produce students who are courageous enough to create something original, something new, and something different,” she said. “This exhibit really brought out the creativity of our students because it challenged them to develop designs that are authentic to their own vision and ideas.”

The exhibition also emphasized the increasing significance of public-facing creative education, where students can showcase their work outside the classroom and connect with wider audiences, industry professionals, and collaborators.

Nurturing Future Designers in Enderun

In an interview with Assistant Secretary Nylah Rizza Bautista of the DTI Competitiveness and Innovation Group, she emphasized the importance of initiatives such as The Palimpsest in bolstering the country’s creative economy and supporting the development of future Filipino designers.

“The event is very inspiring because it features our future interior designers that are truly promising. We are in the lookout for the next Kenneth Cobonpue and the next globally recognized Filipino designers,” said Bautista. “This is a very good breeding ground because we already see so much potential and talent from the students, who represent the future of this generation.”

As the Philippine creative sector progresses, The Palimpsest highlighted how crucial collaboration among academia, government, and industry is for supporting young creatives.

“We call it the triple helix: the collaboration between government, the academe, and the private sector,” Bautista shared. “Events like this are important because they expose students to the real world of interior design. Design is part of our everyday lives, and students need to understand how their creativity can translate into something meaningful, impactful, and even commercially viable for the public.”

The Student Designers: Exemplifying Enderun Excellence

The exhibition showcased original works by student designers Mayi Nguene-Ibog (Roots of Gagnoa), Tasav Hanji (The Jharokha), Juliana Asencio (Ugnay-Tariq), Lovely Garcia (Passing Stories for the Future), Vanessa Marquez (Bukas Palad), William Go III (Scholar’s Rock), and Miguel Lim Catacutan (Siklod). Each piece was inspired by the designer’s cultural background, personal history, and life experiences, embodying The Palimpsest’s core theme of layered memory and identity through a variety of modern perspectives.

For Marquez, opportunities such as The Palimpsest mark a significant milestone in her development as a young designer.

“Enderun helped me by providing opportunities like this to showcase my work publicly,” she said. “Honestly, being part of this exhibit feels like I’m finally starting my career.”

More than just a furniture design showcase, The Palimpsest highlighted Enderun’s interdisciplinary approach to design education, combining creativity with entrepreneurship and practical implementation.

From concept development to production, students were responsible for designing their pieces, sourcing manufacturers, managing collaborations, refining prototypes, and supervising the entire process until final completion. This exercise pushed students to handle both the creative aspects and the business side of design, embodying the school’s dedication to cultivating industry-ready designers who understand both craftsmanship and commerce.

The Palimpsest: In the Afterimage of Time transformed into a celebration of emerging Filipino design voices, demonstrating that with proper mentorship, exposure, and a platform, students can influence discussions that shape the future of creativity and innovation in the Philippines.

Learn more about the Interior Design Program of Enderun Colleges via the link here: https://www.enderuncolleges.com/course/bachelor-of-science-in-interior-design/. 

About Enderun Colleges

Enderun Colleges offers students an immersive learning experience with industry-focused programs, highly skilled faculty, and a wide array of local and international internship opportunities. The school provides bachelor’s degree programs of international standard in fields such as International Hospitality Management; Business Administration with majors in Financial Management, Operations Management, Marketing Management, Technology Management, and Sustainability Management; along with programs in Economics, Entrepreneurship, Architecture, Interior Design, and Multimedia Arts.

Enderun Senior High School offers various strong academic tracks, including Accountancy, Business, and Management (ABM); Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS); Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM); and the General Academic Strand (GAS). In addition to these Department of Education-approved strands, students have the opportunity to earn advanced college credits via the internationally recognized AP Capstone™ program.

Visit Enderun’s official website at https://www.enderuncolleges.com. For PR-related matters, visit https://enderunmarketing.com/.  

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