KATHA Origins: The Traveler’s Palm Hanging Lamp

By: Aly Dela Peña

Creativity and artistry, in all forms, are ignited in numerous ways. For Randy and Guia Viray, the father-daughter designer tandem of furnishing company Triboa Bay Living, inspiration usually comes from nature and the great outdoors. Their latest creation, the Traveler’s Palm Hanging Lamp, garnered recognition at the Manila FAME Katha Awards 2023. The hanging lamp, meticulously crafted from ash wood veneer, clinched the esteemed Best Product Design award in the Lamps and Lighting category.

Usually bought in pairs with complementing sizes, the hanging lamp is inspired by sunlight peeking through foliage that emits the same warmth to the indoor space. Guia, the company’s fourth-gen owner and designer, shares the idea for the lamp started in their backyard at dusk. Randy, her father, saw sun rays peeking through a Traveler’s Palm leaf, and from that moment they played with the idea of translating it into a lighting piece.

The creative process for the Virays starts when Randy identifies the inspiration, and then comes  Guia to interpret, draw, and refine the idea before they share it with their in-house artisans who will create iterations and samples.

Randy is not new to translating nature’s glory into interior wonders, as most of the brand’s sophisticated yet laid-back designs are nature-inspired. For instance, the Ripples wall art evokes a droplet’s effect on water; the Fyllo wall art features the intricate details of leaves and its veins; and the Mangrove Tree lamp has root-like legs for its base.

The timeless appeal of these products hinges on the creativity of their design, skillfulness of the brand’s craftsmen, and durability of the ethically-sourced raw materials they use.

When asked about how she keeps her ideas fresh and in line with trends, Guia shares, “As a designer, you always have to keep updating yourself with trends and have foresight of what would be up-and-coming in the design scene. I like talking to interior designers too as they give us good design perspectives.”

After bagging the KATHA Award for the Traveler’s Palm Hanging Lamp, Triboa Bay Living has been receiving numerous buyer inquiries.

“We weren't expecting to win anything, so receiving the KATHA Award in Manila FAME was a pleasant surprise. The display here at the showroom was sold already, which is a good indicator of the market’s response,” Guia shared.

As designers who do not rest on their laurels, the Virays reveal that Triboa Bay Living is set to release a fully upholstered line of sofas, as well as occasional and dining chairs.

The company aims to showcase its artisans’ upholstery skills in the upcoming Philippine International Furniture Show in March 2024.