Design Wasteland?

There was a fush in the Philweavers group about one of our group member Rex Advindicula who was recently interviewed in Computer Arts. The interview was mangled and it came out really wrong. It sparked a lot of issues and disheartening replies; emails; project proposals from clients trying to buy-off filipino webdesigners for an amount of a few measley change.

In terms of our status within the global design community, we think that we are still way behind, not much people from outside would really ever first thought of manila designers. But of course, it’s pretty good already considering that this country does not offer intensive design courses. It’s a big step; our city has been included to this research.
On how we see it, the Internet is supposed to bring like-minded group together. We don't prefer to look at where we come from or if we fit in to that piece of the pie. We just do what we like and share it to the world and meet new amigos. That has always been our goal. From there, we have managed to introduce Manila before in the PLACE project by Vasava which lead us to other international outlets. We also articipate on design portals by being news editors at Pixelsurgeon, Lounge72, Digital Abstracts, and BD4D and as a representative at Wellvetted.
Q1. Does your city have a history as a design hotspot?
None at all. Graphic design here is just starting to be appreciated by the majority in our point of view. Our universities does not offer design course at all, or if there is any, it’s probably not too effective, basically what they just learn out of it are the tools....... (copy & pasted first few parts of the interview)

My first impression on reading a .pdf attachment from my friend had me frustrated and sad. I was, or still am, one of those who tries to make a name for Filipino Web Designers; to make a difference.

The moment I was born, it was ink and paint that fed me. My mother being a writer and my father as a social realist painter. What is it that defines us? When one looks at a painting, a comic, a graphic art, a layout, any design or any illustration that tells you "Now, that is a filipino art."

Should it always be full of red and blue, colors of the Filipino flag? Should there be any ethnic scribles or symbols? Alibata? Banig? a kubo? or a rice field? the "Asian" look and feel? What is it that defines Filipino art? One thing I could say is that, Filipinos are unique. Each designer tries to have their own style... also Filipinos can adapt other styles, may it be european style or american. It's true that, the Philippine country is looking at the graphic/computer art industry only recently. heck.. I heard that there's a school going to be build solely for that.