Tacloban Prevails, a Furniture and Accessory Line Made from the Ruins of Haiyan.

I received an email with information on a phenomenal idea called Tacloban Prevails. I was so moved by this brilliant endeavor and couldn’t wait to share it with all of you. Tacloban Prevails is a brand and system that grants a second life to debris and wreckage from the typhoon Yolanda, internationally known as Haiyan. The good thing about this is that they actually benefit the families victimized by this disaster. Raw material or the so-called junk is purchased from the family and with the help of local hands it is manufactured into something beautiful, a conversation piece worth investing in for your home.

The design and concept were born out of the brilliant mind and compassionate heart of Bernardo Urbina, a designer well-known in his field. He was born in Costa Rica and pursued his passion by studying Industrial Arts at the Pratt Institute. He worked in New York City with known designer John Haushmand and further studied in Milan, Italy where he earned his Masters Degree in Industrial Design for Architecture. Armed with his talent and skill, he decided to move to Cebu City in the Philippines which is known as the place for furniture production. Bernardo’s work is truly something with soul as he truly wishes to improve the quality of life one step at a time for the people of Tacloban.

The pieces are one or two of a kind with some being in production stage. Here are some of the Tacloban Prevails master pieces:

Fransiscko’s Wine Glass Rack

Fransiscko

Spotted in a village at the outskirts of Tacloban was a 15-year-old boy named Fransiscko Estupin with his pushcart. The cart though had no more wheels and was difficult to move around. Purchased from Fransiscko, this former piece of junk is turned into a modern wine rack.

Nestor’s Coffee Table

Nestor Abilado

Nestor’s Coffee Table

This unique coffee table was design from a ladder that was part of Nestor Abilado’s house. Purchased from this 89 yer old man, it now holds a 1/2″ glass top and lives to tell a story of resilience despite calamity.