IDr. Ruwayna Alqaseer-Del Rosario grew up in a small town in Tarlac that is known for furniture subcontracting. When she was about to enter kindergarten, she and her dad worked together to make a study chair from scratch. This early response to the craft instilled a sense of wonder in her-- one that she pursued where she studied Furniture Design at the School of Fashion & the Arts. She later got her Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design at the University of the Philippines and placed 4th on the Interior Design Licensure Examination last July 2024..

IDr. Ruwayna found her calling in reviving what had been a dying craft. And yet for her, furniture making was more than just that; it was a discipline, an entire tradition on its own.

It is her belief that progress is not a zero-sum game: the modern and traditional were not binary, mutually exclusive forces. Instead, they could be wedded together by integrating tried-and-tested disciplines with modern techniques in ways that do not compromise quality and that can fill the demands of the modern global market.

Glenn, being the conservative entrepreneur in the husband-wife tandem, employed the principle of Lean Operations in managing Arksmith from the very beginning. By operating on multiple craft-specific workshops, Arksmith delivers the best craftsmanship with the least wastage and cost.

Having witnessed several huge manufacturing companies close down due to unforeseen circumstances in the past decade and a half, the Del Rosarios took the welfare of their people to heart.

This genuine desire to create lasting positive impact to the communities they work with is what sets Arksmith apart. This is the driving fire behind the company’s success.