January 3, 2024 by Christine Manalo-Villamora

It was 2 o’clock in the afternoon, I was making coffee then my phone rang… someone from new home improvement magazine ARKITEKTURA saw my interior design blog and they want to interview me and feature my works. With a coffee cup on my left hand and phone on my right hand… I said yes. I sent them photos of my previous projects and the Editors liked it and push through with the publishing. I couldn’t believe it until I received my complementary printed copy. I believe it was the start of my career under my name and it transformed my life. Someone believed in my skills and I think it is really important to have someone who can help you achieve your dreams. When I started my interior design firm I really don’t have big network or even famous celebrity friends. I love to draw, I love to solve problems thru creative solutions and I put my heart in everything I do. I believe that when you are a good person, the Lord will put good people in your path.

It was January 3, 2014, same day and same sunny afternoon like this, about 10 years ago, I was at home contemplating on what am I going to do with my life. My husband and I, we’ve been trying to conceive a baby for almost 2 years. So I decided to leave my corporate job and became a full house wife mode. Within 6 months of trying to settle, stay at home and relax… I can’t. I was used to working so hard, hustling, and I want to get back to my busy life. I started my journal and design blog. Sketching, designing and visualizing will always be part of my routine. I crave for my work back, I missed my work and I love being creative and turning drawings into reality.

Before CMV Interior Designs, I worked for 8 years in corporate world, I am so used to the morning rush… making it on time for our Bundy clock time in. I was introvert way back then and I am still… but I remembered that during my corporate girl era, I was timid, shy and have minding my own world. I have few trusted friends and I party hard with my small circle. Being in the business of design and managing people transformed me and my point of view in life. That… It is not about me or how fast I can do cad drawing details or how fast I can finish my 3D renderings… I realized it is about team work. You can’t do solo forever, you can’t achieve bigger projects doing solo, you can’t be island forever.

Things are better when you have “kakampi“, when you have tag-team, when you have someone to share the trials and triumphs. Things are better when have someone to help you achieve the deadlines. Things are better when we do it together, when we do it as a team.

Developing CMV Design Team over the years made me a better person than I am 10 years ago. I mentor the team, we became friends and eventually we became family.

I remember during my early days as Solo Entrepreneur “dati ako lahat gumagawa one-woman-team, ako gagawa ng proposal, ako sasagot ng telephone, ako na din mag drafting and render ngayon may kakampi na ako, kasama na tumugon sa deadlines and submissions”.

Another situation way back 2016 we have a system that 1 designer will handle the drafting and plans then 1 designer will handle the perspectives and 1 admin will handle inquiries and other office management, I needed to assign task so I can focus more on site visit and coordination, I need team mates. Fast forward 2024, we still have the same system but this time we’ve grown.

Being the youngest and the most happy go lucky in the siblings I really don’t have much obligations, chores or responsibilities. “Baby and baby ako ng Mama ko but when I entered the business side of design, I became more organized and dependable. May mga umaasa na family sa akin sa bawat decision I will make, I am providing jobs I have to do better and I have to be better for them. I am more inspired to work because I have team members that I need to support and they support me as well.”

The most fulfilling part of being with the team and developing the skills of our members is that one day I will see the previous and present designers making wave in the design industry. “Parang yung palang reward na sa akin, kasi may mga taong tumulong sa akin when I was starting my solo practice and now it’s my turn to give back and support the future interior designers”.