ABOUT US

From the Philippine Biodiversity Conservation Priorities: A Second Iteration of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan edited by Ong, et. al. (2002):

"The Philippines is one of the most important countries in the world for conserving diversity of life on Earth. It is one of 17 megadiversity countries, with more than 52,177 described species, of which more than half are found nowhere else in the world… However, less than six percent of the country’s original forest cover remains while 418 species are listed in the 2000 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, making [the Philippines] one of 25 global biodiversity hotspots.

The Philippines is one of the few countries in the world that is both a megadiversity country and a biodiversity hotspot. Per hectare, the Philippines probably harbors more diversity of life than any other country on Earth.”

Ilahas Designs was conceived to celebrate the richness of Philippine biodiversity through original wildlife-themed artworks distributed by means of popular merchandize. We believe that the natural heritage of the Philippines could be a source of pride for Filipinos if they are aware of how special it is. For this reason, Ilahas Designs, through its products, seeks to introduce Filipinos to the unique Philippine flora and fauna and to encourage them to contribute to their conservation.

The three-person team behind Ilahas Designs:

ARNEL B. TELESFORO, Designer
arnel@ilahas.com

An Animator and a Graphics Artist for the past 18 years, Arnel is the primary creative force behind Ilahas Designs. He was introduced to the beauty of Philippine wildlife when he got into bird watching as a hobby. Arnel's designs show a strong influence of animation but this style happily fits the objective of Ilahas to popularize Philippine wildlife. Arnel hopes to someday lead a network of like-minded artists from different creative traditions to contribute to the design collection of Ilahas.

CHRISTINE E. TELESFORO, Production Assistant
christine@ilahas.com

Christine helps in the business aspect of Ilahas Designs. Aside from selling Ilahas products, she also keeps account of the inventory and writes content for the Ilahas website. Christine likewise leads the advocacy agenda of Ilahas, a result of an Environmental Advocacy course she took in grad school. Christine hopes Ilahas would make Filipinos proud to wear the Philippine Crocodile on their shirts rather than a generic crocodile on their shirt tags; or the Palawan bear cat on their bags rather than a pink Japanese feline species.

CARMELA P. ESPAÑOLA, Consultant
carmela@ilahas.com

A wildlife biologist, Carmela is the resident scientist of Ilahas Designs. She provides information and materials on which product designs and supplementary data are based. Her honest critique of operations and product quality also contributes to the improvement of Ilahas Desgins. Aside from her scientific expertise, Carmela’s exceptional skill in folding shirts is also a much-valued input.

More than a profit-making venture, Ilahas Designs has become a sort of vocation for its staff. For Arnel, it is a creative outlet that allows him enough freedom to explore his skills. For Christine, it is an avenue to put into practice her Development Communication training. For Carmela, it is an opportunity to share with a wider audience her knowledge of Philippine wildlife. Most importantly, by contributing their individual skills and gifts to the cause of conservation, they give due recognition to the source of all talents, the Creator of all life Himself.