Raphael Legacy, Inc. is a Cebu-based company that started as manufacturer of high-end rattan furniture for the Japanese market. With the abundant marble and stones in the Visayas region, the company eventually ventured into combining stone with iron, leather, or wicker in coming up with pieces of home furniture and accents. This started the company's recognition throughout the United States, Germany, France, United Kingdom, Singapore, and Spain, for classical furniture and home accents.
Together with their growing business, are the mounting stone fragments that were left unused. Raphael decided to invest on research and product development, which gave rise to a new line of product for the company--mosaic furniture, accessories, and tiles. At first, most of the company's new pieces were mosaics from marble, the company then discovered the different character, texture, and various colors fossilized stones possess, not to mention, fossilized stones are quite abundant in the Visayas region.
These tons of stone debris are now bringing Raphael Legacy, Inc. an annual sales of US$4 million.
The artistic inclinations of Filipinos also paved the way for Raphael Legacy to manufacture Roman-inspired mosaic, usually characterized by simple, geometric patterns, in monochromatic colors. The company's 28 different colors of fossilized stones, exclusively found in the Philippines, also made it possible for Raphael to create Greek-inspired mosaics that are mostly stylized, elaborate, polychrome, and abstract.
Mosaic furniture, home accents, and mosaic tiles are just some of the products that Middle East contractors could watch out in the Philippines' first participation to The Big 5 show on October 28 to November 01 at the Shaikh Maktoum Hall of the Dubai International Exhibition Center.
"Our participation to The Big 5 show is more exploratory on our side," said Charles A. Belleza, CEO of Raphael Legacy, Inc. "But we believe that the booming hotel industry in Dubai will open doors of opportunities for our company, and for the whole Philippine delegation as well," he added.
"Mosaic has been fascinating the world for quite sometime, and it is again getting popular as building and interior material," said Charles.
Aside from continuous product development, the company also pioneered the mechanized technique of inlaying stone slices, which makes the company competitive enough to meet bulk orders on time. This mechanized technique earned Raphael a utility patent from the Philippines' Bureau of Patents. To date, the company has secured four patented processes from the Philippine Bureau of Patents, and one registered with China for its stone furniture.
Raphael's successful innovation of resurrecting stone fragments into works of art and viable export merchandise, has earned the company a Design Excellence Award in 1995. This category of Golden Shell Award is the highest recognition given by the Philippine's Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM).
The Philippine delegation to The Big 5 ShowAlong with Raphael Legacy, Philippine companies such as Teresa Marble, one of the country's leading supplier of marble tiles and slabs, will try to forge partnerships with Middle East contractors. Madeka Stone Development Enterprises will bring its natural stones, slates, wood stones, shell stones, and coco coir.
Lightworks Resources, Inc. on the other hand will introduce the fiberglass as new coverings for bathroom and floor tiles. While Grace Park International will showcase kitchen systems made of wood. World Chem Enviro Technologies, Inc. will offer waste and wastewater treatment technologies, equipment and related process.
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© Press Release 2006
