GLORIOUS Director Makes Furniture and Art, Too
The director of the hot, new Angel Aquino film has been creating unique home decor with her son in Marikina
Since Monday, everyone has been talking about Angel Aquino and Tony Labrusca’s new film Glorious, which will be streaming this month via I Want TV. Based on the steamy trailer, the movie is about the relationship between an older woman and a younger guy.
Hot movie plot aside, we couldn’t help but remember that Glorious’s writer and director Connie Macatuno has been featured on the pages of Real Living before—not as part of the entertainment industry, but as the owner of Lokal Home+Art+Fashion, a home and lifestyle store in Marikina.
Connie, who had worked at ABS-CBN for years, ventured into the creation of furniture, décor, and accessories with her incredibly talented son Cax, who hand-paints the artwork (he painted this mural, seen below).
“Lahat ng products with hand-painted artwork, furniture, etc., nanggaling sa amin ng anak ko—it’s our bonding together,” Connie shares. “I think yung pagdating ng anak ko sa buhay ko is a preparation for something for me—to go into something which I really want to do, which is original work.”
Her son hand-paints faces of famous historical figures and pop culture icons, such as Mao Tse Tung, the Mona Lisa, and Audrey Hepburn, and these are used to embellish upholstered chairs, stools, and even ceiling and floor lamps. Connie dressed up one corner of the store with an up-cycled sofa (above), an area that is so inviting that almost all the guests sit down and chat. “Lahat ng tao na nauupo rito, nagto-talk show,” she says.
Cax’s whimsical paintings also adorn bags (above), pillows, jean jackets, wraparound skirts, and other fashion accessories. Aside from Cax’s creations, Lokal also sells Filipino crafts and other local brands, such as shoes that are specifically made in Marikina.
In between making films, Connie sells Lokal items at popular lifestyle bazaars, such as the recent Artefino, Spectrum, and Katipunan Weekend Market. “Local ako, pero hindi ibig sabihin low class. Local ako, pero hindi ibig sabihin ethnic,” she says.
Follow Lokal Home+Art+Fashion on Instagram at @iamlokal for bazaar (and Glorious!) updates
