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Grandson of National Artist for Fashion Design wants to continue legacy — this time in interior design

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Josh Mercado

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1722313369818image1 (2).jpeg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>One of Onie&#x27;s cabinet designs</div>When he was a child, Roberto Antonio &quot;Onie&quot; Valera would hear anecdotes about the craftsmanship of his grandfather, the Dean of Philippine Fashion and National Artist for Fashion Design, Ramon Valera. His grandfather died in 1972 before Onie was born, but the stories of how great the fashion icon was still lives on in the heart of Onie. Like his Lolo, since his youth, he had been a natural in design.According to Onie, he would destroy things at home and would rebuild it. His mother noticed that some of their furniture would suddenly have new looks.&quot;Nung bata ako, ako ang nagre-rearrange ng furniture. Ako lang &#x27;yung matiyagang nag-aayos ng furniture. Kasama ang mommy ko na bumili ng sofa. Sabi ko sa parents ko, I want to take interior design. Sabi ng dad ko, &#x27;Naku, Onie, mahirap &#x27;yan, puyatan &#x27;yan.&#x27; So parang na-discourage ako,&quot; he said. &quot;I took up Industrial Engineering. After 2 years, hindi ko siya gusto. Nag-shift ako. Dun ko na-mix ang mathematics at design. After graduating Interior Design, I went to the US, where I took my masters degree,&quot; he added. Onie finished Bachelor of Science in Interior Design at the Philippine School of Interior Design and got his Master of Science in International Business degree at California International University.In 2020, he built his own interior design business, Vast Solutions, specializing in cabinets at his own home in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. His first-ever client was his mother, who asked him to make a cabinet for her kitchen.&quot;During the pandemic, naisip ko, mag-develop kaya ako ng sariling library. October &#x27;yun ng 2020, I started developing the library. Biglang nag-text &#x27;yung mom ko. She said, &#x27;Onie, kailangan ko ng cabinet sa kitchen kasi tatanggalin ko &#x27;yung lumang stove. May kilala ka ba?&#x27; Sabi ko, &#x27;Ma, ako na lang. Ayun. Ako ang nag-design.&#x27; Nung ginawa namin, kaya naman pala so ayun na &#x27;yung friends ko nag-start na magtanong sa akin,&quot; he said. <div>Onie and his Lolo Ramon</div>The in-demand cabinet maker shared that he got his attention to detail from his grandfather.&quot;Yung lolo ko, siya mismo ang nagtatabas ng tela. Siya lahat. Siya ang magsisimula. Ganun din sa akin sa interior design. From the start, ako ang magde-design, ako ang magdro-drawing, ako ang sa hardware. Sa assembly and installation, andun din ako. Parang ganun,&quot; he shared.His wife, Olive Joy Valera, added: &quot;One of the things that really stands out in his design is &#x27;yung intricacy of his design. Siya naman, he does that in the cabinet design when it comes to specification. There are clients na metikuloso.&quot;They say behind every man&#x27;s success is a woman. For Onie, that woman is his wife, who always reminds the shy designer to be confident.&quot;Sobrang simple lang niya. Ayaw niyang pumupunta na mag-isa kapag big clients. Gusto niyang kasama ako. Iba pa rin ang touch ng babae or chika ng babae. Pero kapag technical na ang usapan, siya na ‘yun,&quot; said Olive. <div>Onie and his favorite piece </div>Valera creates for prominent clients around the country. His clients include high-ranking officials and big corporations. When asked about his favorite piece, he responded: &quot;The kitchen. The kitchen ay nasa peninsula. Functional siya. I can work there habang ang wife ko nagluluto. Hindi na siya kitchen. Parang work area na rin.&quot;He added, &quot;Kitchen is just right. Kapag tamad kaming mag-dining table, dun lang kami sa counter ng kitchen. It has everything. It’s very functional.&quot;&quot;I work in the kitchen. Nandun &#x27;yung mga bata. Minsan kapag nag-iisip ako, sasabihin ko lang sa mga bata na tone it down. Sa umpisa lang naman mahirap kapag nag-iisip ka ng design pero once okay na, tuluy-tuloy na.&quot; <div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1722313262356image0.jpeg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Onie with his staff</div>For him, the  kitchen is the new living room.&quot;Before, sa living room ka tumatanggap ng guests. Now, you accept your guests in the kitchen. Parang nagbabago na ang landscape of entertaining,&quot; he expressed. <div>Onie and his definition of cabinets </div>What he knows is that when he walks into a home and sees beautiful cabinets, he feels so good.&quot;Cabinet design has become more and more personal through the years,&quot; he said.&quot;In design, function should be as important as aesthetics. It&#x27;s stylish, it looks great, but the elements should be useful in the overall design.&quot;He emphasized, &quot;Ang design is not just about aesthetics. It is about function. Halimbawa gagawa ng cabinet, &#x27;yung iba makikita niyo maraming pinto, &#x27;yung sa akin as much as possible isang pinto lang ang bubuksan. Depende sa application. Swing door ba siya or sliding. Kung masikip, hindi puwedeng swing door.&quot;The master cabinet maker also shared what&#x27;s in and what&#x27;s out.&quot;In terms of cabinet sa interior design, ang uso ay modern na contemporary na walang handles. &#x27;Yung wood hindi na rin masyadong uso. Ang uso ngayon is &#x27;yung solid na anti-fingerprint. Pero siyempre &#x27;yung iba ang gusto ay timeless so minsan ang ginagawa ko I mix wood, matte, and glass.&quot;<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1722313450415image5.jpeg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>One of Onie&#x27;s cabinet designs</div>As he hopes for the best for his brand Vast Solutions, Valera ended the interview with this advice for aspiring designers.&quot;Kailangan may knowledge. Bumili lang ako ng isang electric screwdriver, dun kami nagsimula. Hindi naman lahat kailangang malaki ang puhunan. You can start small basta importante may knowledge ka at gusto mo ang ginagawa mo. Kung gusto mo at alam mo ang ginagawa mo, kahit maliit ang puhunan, &#x27;yung puhunan lalaki &#x27;yan. Mag-enjoy ka rin,&quot; he said.

When he was a child, Roberto Antonio "Onie" Valera would hear anecdotes about the craftsmanship of his grandfather, the Dean of Philippine Fashion and National Artist for Fashion Design, Ramon Valera.

When he was a child, Roberto Antonio "Onie" Valera would hear anecdotes about the craftsmanship of his grandfather, the Dean of Philippine Fashion and National Artist for Fashion Design, Ramon Valera.