MAKATI City, Philippines - Last Friday, I went out on a date with my wife. Burger monsters that we are, we decided to try out the latest branch of Shake Shack in Greenbelt 5. Though this branch opened last October 29, 2020, we've only been able to visit it this March due to the pandemic.
After ordering and waiting for the order to come while my wife was outside in the al fresco area, my eyes were immediately drawn to the lighting fixtures which gave the entire place that elegant Filipino touch. As an artist, designer and frustrated architect, my eyes are always drawn to the details that enhance the look of a place.
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| Shake Shack at Greenbelt 5 |
I immediately took photos of the lighting fixtures and posted it on my Facebook account.
The T5 strip LED is neatly enclosed in the creation of Hacienda Crafts.
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| The enclosures to the lamps are simple yet mesmerizing. |
I posted as a caption to the pics, "I'm fascinated with the Filipino touch at Shake Shack Greenbelt 5. Nice enclosures for T5 LED tubes." I then tagged a kindred spirit in design and in "Negros Island Love", former Association of Negros Producers President, Mary Ann Colmenares.
She in turn commented that this was produced by Hacienda Crafts of Joey and Ina Gaston in Negros! I was blown away by this idea that a Negros-based company had been picked for inclusion in the overall design of this premier burger place known as Shake Shack.
It's that strange feeling of awe that makes you say "WOW!", because you are so happy that a design and production company from your home island has broken into the limelight of a global brand, and at the same time makes you smile because at the back of your head you know that with the design prowess of Negrenses, it would be just a matter of time that this would happen. You know, that self-fulfilling smile you draw with satisfaction when you say, "Siling ko gid haw", which for the benefit of non-Hiligaynon speakers, the nearest translation is "I told you so" but multiplied 10x with glee.
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| Arurog vine enclosure for a regular LED bulb |
And so I messaged Joey and Ina to ask for the back story. It goes that Ina Gaston met the architect handling this project at one of the Negros Trade Fairs a couple of years ago.
Recently though, Hacienda Crafts got this inquiry from the architectural firm where the architect was connected, asking Ina if they could produce lamps for Shake Shack. It was only much later that they were told that this was the first Filipino inspired branch in the country. Ina says, "The designs were provided and we suggested to use the “Arurog” vine, a material indigenous to Negros island."
Joey says, "We were flattered when they asked us to work with them."
The work is truly World-class! I mean, this is Shake Shack, and THIS IS Greenbelt 5! Ina says she hasn't seen her work in its actual setting but from the pictures, she says it looks good.
I think good is not enough a word to describe it. Fabulous and Fascinating would be best!
My congratulations go out to Joey and Ina Gaston, and the Hacienda Crafts team! You really make us proud, bringing out, the best of Negros Island!
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| Negros Island is the Sweet Spot of the Philippines! |
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