Phil Younghusband, the 5’11” star striker of the Azkals, sat on a queen-size bed, rested his elbows on his knees, and smiled for the camera. Dressed in midnight-blue polo shirt, dark jeans and black sneakers, this young bachelor was the very reflection of the modern, monochromatic bedroom he designed for MF Lifestyle, the design-forward line from the Cebu home furnishing company Mandaue Foam.
Younghusband said he had been busy redecorating his condo. The football celebrity, who has remained “unattached” since his breakup with actress Angel Locsin two years ago, admitted that among his favorite parts of the house is the bedroom.
“I believe that the most important thing in any household is the bedroom,” he said. “It’s the bed—that’s where you spend most of your time when you’re at home. As an athlete, it’s important I get a good night’s rest; it’s important that I recover so I am able to perform on the football field.”
MF Lifestyle, he said, is the perfect partner to decorating a house without breaking the bank. He said he had already bought a few pieces, including some for his bedroom, and is looking forward to purchasing more items.
“What it offers really is value-for-money pieces for the home,” he said. “I like to keep things simple and modern with less clutter, and it has designs that meet those needs.”
Mandaue Foam can furnish any home with its classic and modern pieces. Founded by Rosita Uy in 1971, it started out as a small backyard maker of foam slabs. Her son Robin and his friends (classmates from school) worked for her.
Now among the top 1,000 corporations in the country—it has been on the list for five consecutive years—Mandaue Foam today manufactures practically everything for the home. It has sofas, mattresses, spring beds, pillows, seat cushions, dining tables, dining sets, cabinetry, coffee tables, and even accessories.
“We basically make what you can sleep and sit on at home,” said Mandaue Foam assistant vice-president for operations Ryan Robinson U. Uy
The 26-year-old Uy told Inquirer Lifestyle that the bed he sleeps on today is still the same one he had when he was 10 years old. He said the company has always been known for quality products that are at par with international standards. Beginning this summer, in fact, he said Mandaue Foam will upgrade its five-year warranty to cover 10 whole years for exactly the same price.
“We are now using this new technology in manufacturing,” he said. “So these pieces will carry longer warranties and will feel better and look nicer for the same price. We guarantee quality and craftsmanship of our products.”
But Mandaue Foam appeals to the savvy buyer for its fully customized design services. Bring in any design, Uy said, and it will give you exactly what you want for a reasonable price.
How reasonable? A two- and three-seater sectional sofa, for example, can be had for P14,000. Choose the fabric, color, pattern, shape, size, materials. Whatever the client needs, Uy said, Mandaue Foam can supply. This customized offer extends to every aspect of the house, including the kitchen.
“We want to make furniture affordable for everyone,” he said. “Materials are mostly sourced locally and we produce our own products. You really don’t need a big budget to get good-quality furniture. Here you can work with your imagination. There is no template.”
Newlywed actress-singer Saab Magalona, who designed her ideal living area, chose browns and neutrals with color splashes of greens. She had already started purchasing her Mandaue Foam furniture—a sectional sofa whose “other half” has yet to step inside the house—to decorate her new nest with husband Jim Bacarro.
“It’s too big,” she said. “Maybe when we move to a bigger home I can put them together again. Right now, I need beautiful shelves (points to the black, triangular open bookcase) for my beautiful books.”
MF Lifestyle featured celebs and personalities to create their own personal space at home, including Inquirer beauty columnist Kelly Misa-Fernandez, DJ Sam YG, actress Mylene Dizon, fashion blogger Nicole Andersson, and Kryz Uy. Metals, textures, layers, neutrals and prints dominated their designs.
“People today always look for something that fits their space,” said Uy. “They go for multi-use furniture, clean lines and a modern look.”
Orders are accepted online. Custom-made pieces, however, are on an appointment-only basis.
Visit www.mandauefoam.ph for the latest designs and prices, and for a complete list of its branches nationwide.
