By Bjorn Biel M. Beltran
Special Features Writer
AMID STRONG growth in the country’s construction sector, premium tilemaker Esta Galleria, Inc. made its debut in the Philippines, launching a new curated showroom at Glorietta 3, Ayala Center, Makati.
Esta Galleria, a joint venture between Ayala Corp. and Nenking Holdings Group Co., Ltd., offers premium quality tiles that build on the tile-making traditions of Foshan in Guangdong Province, China, where they are manufactured through advanced press machines and ink-jet printing technology from Italy and Spain.
“Esta Galleria is synonymous with quality, durability, and excellence,” Gabriel Katigbak, general manager of Esta Galleria, said in a statement. “Its selection is ever-expanding, ranging from the essentials to the unique and handmade.”
The company produces tiles using porcelain, cement, and stone materials, with ranges that feature wood, dry granular, lappato, soft polish, and high-definition ink-jet printed designs.
At the launch of the showroom, Mr. Katigbak told BusinessWorld that Esta Galleria seeks to capitalize on the country’s construction boom by offering the market with more varied options for premium tiles such as the brand’s unique Italian and Spanish-inspired designs, as well as its BIG+ and V-LIFE series.
According to the research arm of the Fitch Group, BMI Research, the Philippine construction industry is projected to steadily expand over the next decade, gradually expanding at an average real rate of 9.8% in the decade between 2017 and 2026.
“There’s so much construction going on in the country right now,” Mr. Katigbak said.
“Esta Galleria offers a huge array of tiles. I think what differentiates us from other brands is we’re able to offer many different designs in huge sizes. We’re here to supply our tiles to provide the market with many more options and many different designs and styles.”
The BIG+ tile series, which comes in sizes up to 1.2 x 2.4 meters, features Italian design elements printed using eight-channel ink-jet technology, and boasts of a large-scale restoration of the natural texture of stone and spatial patterns. The uniquely shaped V-LIFE collection, meanwhile, uses high standard porcelain antique technology to create a soft and glossy surface.
