From Waste to Wonder: Where Innovation Meets Impact

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

The Netherlands and Taiwan stand at the vanguard of the #CircularShift—transforming discarded plastics into engineering marvels, textile waste into high-fashion fabrics, and battery remnants into digital passports for a sustainable future.

This isn't just recycling. This is reimagining the very DNA of industry itself.

From Rotterdam to Taipei, pioneers are rewriting the rules: where lettuce grows without soil and waste, where electric vehicle batteries gain second lives through transparent traceability, where yesterday's ocean plastics become tomorrow's premium materials. Companies aren't just reducing their footprint—they're erasing the very concept of waste.

The challenge is global. The innovation is Dutch. The partnership is unstoppable.

These aren't distant dreams or corporate greenwashing. These are operational realities—proven technologies, scaling solutions, and a collaborative ecosystem connecting knowledge institutions, governments, and industry leaders across continents.

The circular economy isn't coming. It's here. And it's being built by those bold enough to see opportunity where others see only trash.

Join the movement. Make the #CircularShift. Because in the economy of tomorrow, nothing is wasted—everything is transformed.

In a world drowning in disposables, a revolution is rising from what we once threw away. The Netherlands and Taiwan stand at the vanguard of the #CircularShift—transforming discarded plastics into engineering marvels, textile waste into high-fashion fabrics, and battery remnants into digital passports for a sustainable future.

This isn't just recycling. This is reimagining the very DNA of industry itself.

From Rotterdam to Taipei, pioneers are rewriting the rules: where lettuce grows without soil and waste, where electric vehicle batteries gain second lives through transparent traceability, where yesterday's ocean plastics become tomorrow's premium materials. Companies aren't just reducing their footprint—they're erasing the very concept of waste.

The challenge is global. The innovation is Dutch. The partnership is unstoppable.

These aren't distant dreams or corporate greenwashing. These are operational realities—proven technologies, scaling solutions, and a collaborative ecosystem connecting knowledge institutions, governments, and industry leaders across continents.

The circular economy isn't coming. It's here. And it's being built by those bold enough to see opportunity where others see only trash.

Join the movement. Make the #CircularShift. Because in the economy of tomorrow, nothing is wasted—everything is transformed.

Holland Circular Hotspot (HCH)

"The Global Nerve Center of Circular Revolution"

They are the matchmakers of sustainable transformation. Holland Circular Hotspot doesn't just connect companies—they architect entire ecosystems where circular innovation thrives. From Dutch pioneers to international changemakers, HCH bridges the gap between groundbreaking ideas and global implementation. They're not observers of the circular economy; they're the conductors orchestrating its worldwide symphony, turning isolated innovations into collaborative movements that reshape industries and redefine what's possible.

BNL Supplies B.V.

"Giving Batteries a Second Heartbeat"

In a world racing toward electrification, BNL Supplies asks the question everyone else ignores: What happens after? They've cracked the code on lithium battery immortality—repairing, recycling, and creating digital passports that track every battery's journey from cradle to rebirth. Operating across Asia and Europe, they're not just servicing e-bikes and yachts; they're building the infrastructure for a future where batteries never truly die. By 2027, their Battery Passport Platform will make every cell traceable, accountable, and endlessly renewable. They're not managing waste—they're manufacturing permanence.

Rijk Zwaan

"Feeding the Future Without Wasting the Earth"

For over a century, Rijk Zwaan has been engineering the seeds of tomorrow. With 30+ crop categories and 2,000+ varieties serving 100+ countries, they're not just growing vegetables—they're cultivating a revolution in sustainable agriculture. Their innovations enable farmers to produce crystal lettuce and vibrant greens using 50% less water, while their breeding magic creates produce that meets diverse regional tastes and climates. Through continuous R&D, they're proving that feeding a growing planet and protecting it aren't opposing goals—they're the same mission, one seed at a time.

MVRDV

"Architecture That Imagines Cities Reborn"

Since 1993, MVRDV has been designing more than buildings—they've been prototyping the future. With 300+ visionaries across Rotterdam, Shanghai, Paris, Berlin, and New York, they tackle urban challenges with research-driven boldness. From Rotterdam's Markthal to Amsterdam's Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, their projects breathe new life into cities while their MVRDV NEXT technology unit and Carbon Scape software integrate sustainability into every beam and blueprint. Their collaboration with The Why Factory doesn't just reduce environmental impact—it envisions cities where innovation and sustainability aren't features, but foundations. They're not building for today. They're constructing tomorrow's urban dreams.

Dijmex

"Where Plastic Waste Becomes Engineering Excellence"

Founded in 1938 as a family business, Dijmex has spent 87 years perfecting the art of transformation. They take post-consumer and industrial plastic waste and metamorphose it into high-grade engineering materials that power automotive, electronics, and manufacturing sectors worldwide. Processing varieties like ABS, PA, PC, and PC/ABS with low-carbon precision, they don't just recycle—they upgrade. Every pellet undergoes rigorous laboratory testing, ensuring stability, performance, and full traceability. Their vision? "GREEN & GREAT." Their reality? Turning the Netherlands' plastic problem into premium solutions, proving that waste isn't an endpoint—it's raw potential waiting to be unleashed.

NoMilk2Day

"Recruiting the Circular Workforce of Tomorrow"

The circular economy needs more than technology—it needs talent. Since 2015, NoMilk2Day has been the bridge connecting agricultural, food, and industrial innovators with the professionals who will lead the transformation. Operating across Asia, the U.S., and Europe, with Taiwan expansion launching in 2025, they specialize in executive search, management recruitment, and remote talent solutions for the Northeast Asian market. They don't just fill positions; they forge connections that accelerate the shift to sustainability. By participating in international trade shows and fostering passion-driven recruitment, they're ensuring the circular economy has the human capital to match its ambition. They're not headhunters—they're revolution builders.

ReBlend

"Textile Waste's Second Act Starts Here"

Founded in 2014 by Anita de Wit, ReBlend is rewriting the fashion industry's wasteful script. This multi-expertise network transforms discarded textiles—denim, knits, furniture fabrics—into high-quality yarns and materials that rival virgin cotton. Through collaboration with designers, producers, and knowledge institutions, ReBlend has pioneered innovative reuse strategies and co-creation projects that reduce environmental impact across the entire textile chain. Over the past decade, they've proven that textile waste isn't trash—it's treasure waiting for creative minds to unlock. From cotton recycling to circular alternatives, ReBlend doesn't follow fashion trends. They create sustainability movements that make waste obsolete.

Siebtechnik Tema B.V.

"Separation Science Meets Zero Waste Ambition"

Siebtechnik Tema B.V. is the unsung hero of the circular economy—the technology that makes everything else possible. As a global leader in advanced separation and process technology, they provide the critical infrastructure for plastics recycling: high-quality screening, centrifuging, and drying systems. But their true innovation? Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) technology. Their decanters, centrifuges, and filtration systems minimize industrial wastewater while recovering valuable resources globally. Aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Siebtechnik Tema's technologies don't just reduce waste—they make resource recovery efficient and sustainable. Through innovation and global presence, they're proving that what we separate today determines what we save tomorrow.

Tible BV

"Making Recycling Intelligent, Transparent, and Unstoppable"

Tible is the Dutch tech company turning recycling from a chore into a smart, seamless experience. Their innovative platforms—Deposit Return Systems (DRS), Reverse Vending Machines (RVM), and recycling processes—are deployed worldwide, empowering resource reuse and circular thinking. Their flagship products, HAWK and the Reverse Vending Collector (RVC), deliver data management, automation, and integration across complex value chains with military-grade security and compliance. Tible helps retailers, producers, and system operators boost efficiency, ensure transparency, and meet sustainability goals aligned with international regulations. At Tible, recycling isn't everyone's daily choice—it's their permanent solution. They're building the digital backbone of the circular economy, one transparent transaction at a time.

Together, these organizations aren't just participants in the circular economy—they're the architects, engineers, and visionaries making it inevitable. 

The Diaper Dilemma: Can Used Diapers Really Be Recycled Into Raw Materials?

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

A Taiwanese company claims to transform society's most challenging waste stream into reusable resources—but does the science support the promise?

The Mountain of Disposable Diapers

Every year, an estimated 300,000 disposable diapers are discarded every minute worldwide. In Taiwan alone, where YICHUN appears to operate based on the images provided, hundreds of millions of diapers enter the waste stream annually from infants, elderly care, and medical facilities. Unlike food waste or paper, diapers present a uniquely stubborn environmental challenge: they're composite products designed specifically to resist breakdown, combining plastics, cellulose fibers, and superabsorbent polymers into a single-use item that can take 500 years to decompose in landfills.

The images reveal YICHUN's ambitious solution: specialized recycling bins accepting used diapers, informational displays showing the separation process, and industrial machinery designed to break down these complex products. But can this really work? Let's examine the science, technology, and real-world feasibility of diaper recycling.

The Incineration Problem: Validated

The claim about incineration challenges is largely accurate. Disposable diapers do pose genuine problems for waste-to-energy facilities:

Temperature Issues: The superabsorbent polymer (SAP)—sodium polyacrylate—can retain up to 300 times its weight in liquid. When incinerated, this moisture content dramatically reduces combustion efficiency and can cause temperature fluctuations that stress incinerator components. The plastic components (typically polypropylene and polyethylene) have high calorific values that can indeed cause temperature spikes exceeding optimal operating ranges (850-1000°C).

Equipment Damage: The combination of plastics, SAP gel residue, and varying moisture content creates inconsistent burn rates. This isn't theoretical—waste management facilities in Japan, South Korea, and European countries have documented increased maintenance costs and reduced equipment lifespan when processing significant diaper volumes.

Reluctance Factor: Many municipal incinerators do limit diaper acceptance or charge premium tipping fees. However, modern waste-to-energy facilities with advanced air pollution control systems can handle diapers—they just prefer not to due to the operational complications.

Verdict: VALIDATED ✓

The Three-Component Separation: Technologically Feasible

YICHUN claims to separate diapers into three streams: plastic, cellulose fiber, and SAP. Is this scientifically possible?

The Technology Exists

Several proven diaper recycling technologies have emerged globally:

1. The Fater Process (Italy): Developed by Procter & Gamble and Gruppo Angelini, this autoclave-based system uses steam sterilization followed by mechanical separation. It successfully separates plastics, cellulose, and SAP with recovery rates exceeding 95%.

2. Knowaste Technology (Canada/UK): Employs a patented autoclave process reaching 160°C that sterilizes and softens materials, allowing subsequent mechanical separation and extrusion.

3. Japanese Research: Companies like Unicharm have developed enzymatic and physical separation methods that break down the adhesives binding diaper components.

The YICHUN Process

Based on the display panel showing "Wash and Sterilize," "Shredded," and "Material restored & refined," YICHUN likely employs a multi-stage process:

Stage 1: Washing/Sterilization - Critical for hygiene and loosening adhesives. Hot water or steam treatment (70-160°C) kills pathogens and begins material separation.

Stage 2: Physical Separation - Shredding and mechanical sorting exploit density differences:

Plastics (polypropylene/polyethylene): 0.90-0.92 g/cm³

Cellulose fibers: 0.70-0.80 g/cm³

SAP (hydrated): 1.0+ g/cm³

Stage 3: Purification - Water washing removes contaminants; centrifugation or filtration isolates pure material streams.

The Patented Technology Claim

The company references "patented technology" and "enzyme decomposition." This is scientifically sound:

Enzymatic Treatment: Cellulase enzymes can selectively break down cellulose-based adhesives without damaging the target materials. Protease enzymes help with organic contamination removal. This approach is documented in waste treatment literature.

Low Energy Physics-Based Separation: Likely refers to gravity separation, hydrocyclones, or density-based sorting—established technologies requiring less energy than thermal processing.

Verdict: VALIDATED ✓

The Quality Question: Can Recycled Materials Really Be Reused?

This is where reality becomes more complex.

Recycled Plastics from Diapers

Challenges:

Mixed plastic types (PP, PE, sometimes PET)

Potential contamination requiring extensive washing

Degradation from exposure to bodily fluids and bacteria

Reality: Recycled diaper plastics typically become downcycled products—lower-grade applications like plant pots, park benches, or construction materials. Using them in food-grade or medical applications would require extraordinary purification and face regulatory barriers.

Cellulose Fibers

More Promising: The wood pulp in diapers is relatively high-quality. Studies show recycled diaper cellulose can be used in:

Industrial paper products (hand towels, packaging)

Building materials (insulation, cardboard)

Composite materials

The quality depends on fiber length preservation during processing. The "hand towels" shown in YICHUN's display are realistic—Japan's Unicharm already produces shopping bags from recycled diaper pulp.

Superabsorbent Polymer (SAP)

The Most Valuable Component: Virgin SAP costs $2,000-3,000 per ton. If YICHUN can truly recover clean SAP, this represents the highest-value stream.

Technical Reality: Recovered SAP performance is typically 70-85% of virgin material absorbency. This makes it suitable for:

Agricultural water retention products

Industrial absorbents

Non-critical absorbent products

Potentially lower-grade hygiene products (though this faces market acceptance challenges)

Critical Issue: The "traceability certification" mentioned is essential. Customers need assurance that materials are sterile and meet quality standards.

Verdict: PARTIALLY VALIDATED 

The technology works, but end-use applications are more limited than implied. True "closed-loop" recycling (diapers → diapers) remains extremely challenging.

The Economics: Does This Business Model Work?

Revenue Streams Analyzed

Collection Costs: The bins shown suggest institutional partnerships (hospitals, care facilities, public venues). Collection infrastructure is expensive—vehicles, labor, storage.

Processing Costs: Industrial equipment, energy for sterilization, water treatment, labor, and facility operations.

Material Sales:

Recycled plastic: $200-400/ton

Recycled cellulose: $100-300/ton

Recovered SAP: $800-1,500/ton (lower than virgin due to quality degradation)

The Math Challenge

A typical diaper weighs 40-60g and contains roughly:

40-50% cellulose

30-40% plastics

10-15% SAP

5-10% other (adhesives, elastics)

Best-case scenario per ton of processed diapers:

450 kg cellulose × $200 = $90

350 kg plastic × $300 = $105

125 kg SAP × $1,000 = $125

Total revenue: ~$320/ton

Estimated processing costs: $150-250/ton (based on similar recycling operations)

Tipping fees collected: This is the key. If YICHUN charges $50-100/ton for diaper collection (vs. $80-150/ton for landfill/incineration), they create a viable margin.

Real-World Precedents

Fater's Italian plant processes 10,000 tons/year and is reportedly profitable with municipal contracts

Knowaste struggled commercially and ceased operations in several markets despite working technology

Success factors: Long-term municipal contracts, subsidies/incentives, scale (minimum 5,000-10,000 tons/year)

Verdict: ECONOMICALLY CHALLENGING BUT FEASIBLE 

Profitability depends heavily on tipping fee revenue and guaranteed supply contracts—not just material sales.

Environmental Impact: The Real Question

Carbon Footprint Analysis

Does diaper recycling actually help the environment?

Energy Consumption: Washing, sterilizing (160°C), drying, and mechanical processing consume significant energy. Life cycle analyses show:

Recycling energy: 3-5 MJ/kg of diaper processed

Incineration (with energy recovery): 2-3 MJ/kg net (generates electricity)

Landfill: ~0.5 MJ/kg (but 500-year decomposition)

The Calculation: Recycling is environmentally superior IF:

The recovered materials actually displace virgin material production

Processing energy comes from renewable sources

Water treatment is efficient

Critical Factor: Virgin plastic production requires 62-108 MJ/kg. If recycled diaper plastic truly replaces virgin plastic, the energy savings are substantial.

The Landfill Alternative

Taiwan's limited landfill space makes diaper recycling strategically valuable regardless of carbon calculations. Each ton of diapers occupies ~3-4 cubic meters of landfill space for centuries.

Verdict: ENVIRONMENTALLY BENEFICIAL (with caveats) ✓

Net positive impact, but not as dramatically green as marketing might suggest.

The Hygiene Concern: Safety First

This is the elephant in the room—or rather, in the collection bin.

Pathogen Risks

Used diapers contain:

E. coli, Salmonella, Rotavirus

C. difficile spores (highly resistant)

Potentially, pharmaceutical residues

YICHUN's Approach: The "Infection Control in Long Term Care and Reclassification Operations" panel indicates awareness of this challenge.

Required Standards:

Sterilization at 121°C for 15 minutes or equivalent (autoclave standards)

Wastewater treatment meeting hospital-grade standards

Occupational safety protocols for workers

Successful Precedent: Fater's Italian facility has operated since 2016 with zero reported safety incidents, processing used diapers from nurseries and care homes. Their autoclave system at 150°C+ effectively eliminates all pathogens.

Verdict: MANAGEABLE WITH PROPER PROTOCOLS 

The technology exists to safely handle contaminated materials—medical waste processing has solved these problems.

Market Acceptance: The Psychological Barrier

Here's where science meets society.

Consumer Perception

Would you buy products made from used diapers? Market research reveals:

83% of consumers express environmental concern

34% would purchase recycled diaper products (European survey)

Less than 15% would accept these materials in any product touching skin

The "Yuck Factor": Even perfectly sterile materials face perception challenges. Strategies to overcome this:

Transparency: YICHUN's traceability certification approach is smart

Intermediary Products: Use in industrial applications (construction, agriculture) first

Certification: Third-party verification of safety and quality

Education: Emphasizing that materials are chemically identical to virgin materials after processing

B2B vs. B2C

YICHUN's strategy to focus on B2B sales of raw materials is commercially wise. Industrial customers are more rational, specification-driven buyers than consumers.

Verdict: SIGNIFICANT MARKET CHALLENGE 

Technology isn't the limiting factor—human psychology is.

Global Context: Taiwan's Unique Position

Taiwan's circumstances make this venture particularly relevant:

1. Limited Land: With 23 million people on 36,000 km², Taiwan has acute waste management pressures

2. Advanced Infrastructure: High waste collection rates and public cooperation with sorting programs

3. Government Support: Taiwan's "Circular Economy Promotion Plan" provides policy backing

4. Aging Population: Adult incontinence products represent a rapidly growing waste stream—projected to exceed baby diapers by 2030

5. Manufacturing Ecosystem: Taiwan's industrial capacity supports both recycling equipment production and end-use manufacturing

The Verdict: Audacious but Achievable

What YICHUN Claims: MOSTLY VALIDATED ✓

The core technology for separating diapers into plastic, cellulose, and SAP is proven and operational elsewhere. The incineration challenges are real. The patented processes described are scientifically sound.

What Needs Scrutiny 

Material Quality: Recycled outputs won't match virgin material specifications in all applications

Economic Viability: Success depends on factors beyond technology—contracts, scale, and policy support

Market Development: Sophisticated supply chain development is required to monetize recovered materials

Energy Balance: Net environmental benefit exists but isn't dramatic without renewable energy sources

The Missing Pieces 

Scale: What volume is YICHUN actually processing? Pilot plants often work; commercial scale is different

Financials: Is this profitable yet, or dependent on subsidies?

Certification: Have recovered materials received regulatory approval for claimed applications?

Logistics: Collection infrastructure is capital-intensive—how developed is their network?

The Bigger Picture: Rethinking "Waste"

YICHUN's venture represents something larger than diaper recycling—it's a test case for tackling "difficult" waste streams previously considered unrecyclable.

The Circular Economy Challenge: Modern products are engineered for performance, not recyclability. Diapers perfectly exemplify this: brilliant design for their intended use, terrible for end-of-life processing.

Future Implications: If diaper recycling succeeds commercially:

Mattresses (similar composite structure) become recyclable

Mixed-material medical waste can be processed

Other "impossible" waste streams become economic opportunities

The Technology Evolution: What makes YICHUN's approach feasible now?

Advanced material separation technology

Improved sterilization systems

Market pressure for circular economy solutions

Digital traceability systems for recycled materials

Conclusion: Promising, Not Perfect

YICHUN's diaper recycling operation is scientifically valid, technically feasible, and environmentally beneficial. The claims about technology and material recovery are supported by proven precedents and sound engineering principles.

However, this is not a magic solution to diaper waste. The recovered materials have quality limitations, market acceptance challenges, and the economics require careful management. Success depends on:

Scale: Reaching volumes that justify capital investment (minimum 5,000+ tons/year)

Contracts: Long-term agreements with diaper suppliers and material buyers

Innovation: Continuous improvement in separation efficiency and material quality

Policy: Supportive regulations and potentially incentives for recycled material use

The most honest assessment: YICHUN is doing something genuinely difficult and important. The technology works. The environmental benefits are real. But transforming this from an operating facility into a profitable, scalable business that meaningfully addresses Taiwan's diaper waste challenge requires executing on every aspect—technology, operations, marketing, and policy engagement.

The images show an operational facility with sophisticated equipment and systematic processes. That's not vaporware—it's engineering in action. Whether it becomes a commercial success or a well-intentioned pilot project will depend on the execution challenges that lie beyond the technology itself.

For a waste stream that everyone else has given up on, YICHUN deserves credit for trying—and for having the science to back it up.

What makes this story compelling isn't that someone invented magical recycling—it's that they're applying known science in new ways to solve a problem everyone else considers impossible. That's innovation in its purest form. 

27 Artists, One Theme, Zero Limits: Inside Manila's Most Talked-About Pottery Event

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

A Celebration of Philippine Ceramic Art Brings Together Tradition, Innovation, and Global Dialogue

In the heart of Quezon City, a pottery studio became the beating heart of Philippine ceramic art, as artists, collectors, and enthusiasts gathered to witness where clay truly finds its pulse.

DILIMAN, QUEZON CITY — On a sun-drenched October afternoon, the unassuming Scout Tobias Street transformed into a vibrant epicenter of creative energy. Tahanan Pottery Shop and Studio's October Fiesta 2025, held on October 18, wasn't merely an exhibition—it was a living, breathing testament to the enduring power of clay as a medium of human expression, cultural identity, and artistic communion.

The event's evocative theme, "Where Clay Finds Its Pulse," proved more than poetic metaphor. It captured the essence of what unfolded over several hours: a celebration where ancient craft met contemporary vision, where individual creativity merged with collective spirit, and where the tactile, earthbound nature of ceramics connected disparate worlds.

The Visionaries Behind the Clay

At the helm of this creative odyssey stand Rita Badilla-Gudiño and Vicente Gudiño, the artist-founders whose dedication has transformed Tahanan Pottery from a studio into a movement. Rita, who balances her artistic practice with her role as associate professor at the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts, has become a bridge between academic rigor and passionate artistry—a rare combination that infuses Tahanan with both intellectual depth and soulful authenticity.

The couple's annual October Fiesta has evolved into a cornerstone event for the Philippine ceramics community, drawing attention not just locally but internationally. This year's edition would prove particularly significant, marking a convergence of Philippine and British ceramic traditions through an unexpected but profound artistic dialogue.

TIBOK: Twenty-Seven Hearts Beat as One

The centerpiece exhibition, "TIBOK: Vessels of Form and Pulse," opened with a private viewing and media call at 1 p.m., offering first access to an extraordinary collection. Twenty-seven Tahanan Pottery artists contributed works united by a singular, powerful symbol: the human heart.

In Philippine culture, the heart—or puso—represents far more than the biological organ. It embodies loob (inner self), damdam (feeling), and diwa (spirit). The artists' interpretations ranged from anatomically precise renderings to abstract explorations of rhythm, from vessels that literally pulse with implied movement to pieces that capture the heart's capacity for both fragility and endurance.

The exhibition demonstrated the remarkable diversity possible within a unified theme. Some pieces featured the heart as surface decoration, etched or painted with meticulous detail. Others transformed entire vessels into heart-shaped forms, challenging conventional pottery aesthetics. Still others explored the metaphorical dimensions—hearts cracked and mended with gold kintsugi-inspired techniques, hearts that doubled as functional teapots where liquid flowed through chambers like blood through ventricles.

This collaborative approach speaks to something Louisa Taylor, the event's international guest, would later identify as distinctly Filipino: the emphasis on community and collective creation over solitary artistic ego.

Hands in Clay: The Democratic Art Form

Between the exhibitions and performances, Tahanan offered something increasingly rare in contemporary art events: genuine accessibility. The Pottery Workshop invited visitors—regardless of experience—to engage directly with clay, to feel its cool resistance and surprising plasticity, to understand through touch what words cannot fully convey.

For a modest 250 pesos covering clay and firing costs, participants could create a piece that would undergo the alchemical transformation of the kiln. This democratization of art-making embodies Tahanan's philosophy: pottery isn't an elite practice but a human one, accessible to anyone willing to get their hands dirty.

Watching children and adults alike hunched over pottery wheels, their faces rapt with concentration, one witnesses something profound—the same absorption that must have captivated our ancestors who first discovered that earth mixed with water could be shaped and hardened into permanence.

When Continents Converge: A Transatlantic Dialogue

The event's international dimension arrived in the form of Louisa Taylor, a distinguished ceramist from London's Royal College of Art and author of "Ceramics Bible" and "Ceramics Masterclass." Taylor's books have become essential references for ceramic artists worldwide, and significantly, Rita Badilla-Gudiño is featured in these volumes—a recognition that places Philippine ceramic art firmly on the global stage.

Taylor's Philippine tour, spanning multiple venues from the University of the Philippines to Pinto Art Museum, Crescent Moon Pottery Studio, and various artist studios, represents more than cultural exchange. It signals growing international recognition of the Philippines' vibrant ceramic scene, which has long operated with extraordinary creativity despite limited resources compared to Western counterparts.

Her observation about the differences between Philippine and British ceramic cultures proved particularly insightful: "The sense of unity is powerful for Philippine artists in terms of bringing people together, whereas in the UK it's more of that sense of individuality as a medium."

This distinction illuminates fundamental cultural differences. British and broader Western art traditions have long emphasized individual genius, the singular artistic vision, the artist as isolated creator. The Philippine approach, rooted in bayanihan (communal unity) and collective endeavor, sees art-making as inherently social, collaborative, community-building.

Neither approach is superior; rather, they represent different philosophical orientations toward creativity itself. Tahanan's October Fiesta, with its multiple artists contributing to unified exhibitions, its workshops welcoming novices alongside masters, its integration of performance and visual arts, exemplifies this distinctly Philippine model.

LUAL: The Kiln as Birth

During her opening remarks, Rita Badilla-Gudiño offered guests a glimpse of "LUAL," one of her most renowned works. The piece depicts a kiln, but its symbolism extends far beyond mere representation of equipment. Lual can refer to the kiln itself in some Philippine languages, but the work's power lies in its equation of the firing process with childbirth.

The metaphor resonates on multiple levels. Both involve transformation through trial—raw clay becoming ceramic, pregnancy becoming motherhood. Both require patience, precise timing, and acceptance that the process cannot be rushed. Both carry inherent risks; not every firing succeeds, not every birth proceeds without complication. Both result in something new entering the world, something that did not exist before.

For Rita, who navigates the demands of teaching, artistic practice, and organizing community events, the connection between creation and labor—artistic and literal—holds personal significance. The kiln becomes a space of possibility and peril, where intense heat either strengthens or destroys, where the artist must trust the process even when unable to see what's happening inside.

Cultural Roots and Contemporary Expression

The integration of Kontra-Gapi (Kontemporaryong Gamelan Pilipino), the resident ethnic music and dance ensemble from UP Diliman's College of Arts and Letters, elevated the event beyond visual arts into multisensory experience. The gamelan's metallic resonances—bronze striking bronze in complex, interlocking rhythms—created sonic architecture that complemented the ceramic works' visual presence.

Equally compelling was the presentation by Carlito Amalla, a visual artist from the Agusanon Manobo tribe. Amalla's participation underscored important connections between contemporary ceramic art and the Philippines' indigenous pottery traditions, which stretch back millennia. Long before Spanish colonization, Philippine communities produced sophisticated ceramics for both utilitarian and ceremonial purposes. These traditions, often overlooked in favor of imported aesthetic values, deserve recognition as foundations of contemporary practice.

Amalla's work and presence reminded attendees that Philippine ceramic art doesn't exist in isolation from deeper cultural roots. The same earth that contemporary artists shape into gallery pieces once formed cooking vessels, burial jars, and ritual objects that sustained communities and honored the dead.

Beyond October: Extending the Pulse

The October 18 fiesta represented only the beginning of an extended series of events. On October 25, Tahanan hosted "Laguna Porcelain and Raku Clay Day," an immersive workshop and demonstration bringing together Rita Badilla-Gudiño and Louisa Taylor. This collaboration offered rare opportunity to witness two artists from vastly different contexts finding common ground in shared material.

Raku firing, with its dramatic process of removing red-hot ceramics from the kiln and plunging them into combustible materials, produces unpredictable, flame-marked surfaces. The technique originated in 16th-century Japan but has been adapted globally. Watching Filipino and British artists engage with this Japanese-origin technique in a Manila suburb perfectly encapsulates contemporary ceramics' global, hybridized nature.

The Grand Finale, scheduled for November 8, promises a year-end sale, raffle draw, discount coupons, and concluding workshop. These commercial elements aren't separate from the artistic mission but integral to it. Artists must sustain their practice financially; collectors and enthusiasts must be able to acquire works. The integration of sale and celebration, commerce and creativity, reflects a holistic understanding of the artistic ecosystem.

Clay as Language: A Philosophy of Making

Rita Badilla-Gudiño concluded the festivities with words that captured the event's deeper significance. She emphasized that clay transcends mere material, instead functioning as "a profound language of love and creativity." She urged everyone to "continue molding fire and sharing the spirit of Tahanan in every piece created."

This poetic formulation—molding fire—captures the essential paradox of ceramics. Artists shape soft, yielding clay, but the work only achieves permanence through fire's transformative violence. The hand molds; the flame completes. Creation requires both gentleness and intensity, patience and decisive action.

The invocation to "share the spirit of Tahanan" speaks to the studio's role as more than physical space. Tahanan means "home" in Tagalog, and the studio has cultivated exactly that quality: a place where artists feel safe to experiment, where newcomers receive welcome, where the competitive pressures that can poison artistic communities give way to mutual support.

The Philippine Ceramics Renaissance

Tahanan Pottery's October Fiesta 2025 occurred within a broader context: a genuine renaissance in Philippine ceramic arts. After decades where ceramics occupied a somewhat marginalized position within the Philippine art world—overshadowed by painting, sculpture, and new media—the past several years have witnessed renewed interest and energy.

Several factors contribute to this revival. Growing middle-class interest in handcrafted goods creates market demand. Social media allows ceramic artists to reach audiences directly, building followings independent of traditional gallery systems. Increased emphasis on sustainability makes ceramics' durability attractive compared to disposable alternatives. And perhaps most significantly, younger artists have embraced ceramics' expressive potential, pushing beyond purely functional work into conceptual and sculptural territories.

Rita Badilla-Gudiño's position at UP College of Fine Arts means she directly influences emerging generations of artists. Her students carry Tahanan's philosophy—accessibility, community, material respect—into their own practices, creating ripple effects that extend far beyond the Scout Tobias Street studio.

Where Clay Finds Its Pulse: A Concluding Reflection

The theme "Where Clay Finds Its Pulse" invites contemplation. Clay, after all, has no pulse of its own. Earth doesn't beat with life. But in human hands, shaped by human intention, fired by human-tended flames, and ultimately held, used, and contemplated by human communities, clay does acquire a kind of life.

The pulse comes from us—from the artists who shape, the fires that transform, the hands that hold finished pieces, the eyes that trace forms, the communities that gather around shared creative practice. Clay becomes the medium through which human pulses synchronize, where individual rhythms find collective tempo.

Tahanan Pottery's October Fiesta 2025 demonstrated this synchronization beautifully. Twenty-seven artists contributing to TIBOK. Performers and visual artists sharing space. Filipino and British traditions conversing. Experienced masters and first-time workshop participants working the same material. All finding their pulse in clay.

In our accelerated digital age, where screens mediate most interactions and algorithms shape perceptions, the stubborn materiality of ceramics offers necessary grounding. Clay demands presence. It cannot be shaped through screens or hurried by impatience. It requires touch, time, attention—the very things our contemporary moment seems designed to eliminate.

Perhaps this explains ceramics' resurgence. We hunger for the real, the tactile, the slow. We need to make things with our hands, to feel resistance and give, to collaborate with material rather than dominate it. We need, in short, to find where clay finds its pulse—which is to say, where we find our own.

The Grand Finale of Tahanan Pottery's October Fiesta 2025 will be held on November 8 at the Tahanan Pottery Shop and Studio, Scout Tobias Street, Diliman, Quezon City. For more information about workshops, exhibitions, and ceramic art classes, visit Tahanan Pottery's social media channels or contact the studio directly.  

TAHANAN POTTERY: Where Clay Finds Its Pulse

Wazzup Pilipinas?! 

Tahanan Pottery Shop and Studio presented its October Fiesta 2025, last October 18 at Scout Tobias Street in Diliman, Quezon City, with the theme, Where Clay Finds Its Pulse—gathering multiple artistic set pieces from Tahanan Artists.

Artists and founders Rita Badilla-Gudiño and Vicente Gudiño spearheaded the annual event. Rita is also an associate professor at the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts.

Opening festivities began at 1 p.m. with a private viewing and a media call to TIBOK: Vessels of Form and Pulse. The initial program gave first-hand access to captivating ceramic works by 27 Tahanan Pottery artists, featuring the heart organ symbolizing the rhythm and pulse of the human spirit.

A Pottery Workshop also gave visitors a chance to try pottery art. The activity offered an opportunity to have a piece fired, with the participants covering the costs of clay and firing at only 250 pesos. 

The activities continued with a book launch from British Artist Louisa Taylor, the author of the Ceramics Bible and Ceramics Masterclass, where Rita Badilla-Gudiño is a featured artist. 

Louisa Taylor, a ceramist, hails from the Royal College of Art in London, UK. Taylor is currently in the country for a series of visits to the University of the Philippines on October 21, Pinto Art Museum and Crescent Moon and Pottery Studio on October 22, John and Tessy Pettyjohn Pottery Studios on October 23, and Rita Gudino Pottery Studio on October 25 to cap off the tour.

When asked about the differences between the Philippines and the UK in ceramic art, Louisa said, “The sense of unity is powerful for Philippine artists in terms of bringing people together, whereas in the UK it’s more of that sense of individuality as a medium.”

Rita Badilla-Gudiño, the host of the October Fiesta, delivered the opening remarks. She also introduced the guests and gave a sneak peek at her renowned work, “LUAL,” which depicts a kiln and symbolizes the process of giving birth. 

Moreover, the program showcased a cultural performance from Kontra-Gapi, Kontemporaryong Gamelan Pilipino, a Resident Ethnic Music and Dance Ensemble from the College of Arts and Letters, University of the Philippines Diliman, and a captivating presentation from Carlito Amalla, a renowned visual artist from the Agusanon Manobo tribe.

The Sining Tahanan Ceramic Art Fair Ribbon Cutting formally opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony featuring TIBOK: Vessels of Form and Pulse, highlighting the artistry and ceramic works of 27 Tahanan Pottery Artists.

A follow-up event called Laguna Porcelain and Raku Clay Day will be held on October 25 at the Tahanan Pottery Shop and Studio. An immersive workshop and demonstration will bring together the works of Rita Badilla-Gudiño and Louisa Taylor.

The Grand Finale is set for November 8, where a year-end sale launch awaits guests and participants. A raffle draw and discount coupons will be offered to attendees, and a workshop that will cap off the October Fiesta. 

Rita Badilla-Gudiño ended the entire festivities with a profound quote that ignited the creativity and passion of artists and enthusiasts alike. She emphasized that clay is not merely a material but a profound language of love and creativity. 

Badilla-Gudiño also urged everyone to continue molding fire and sharing the spirit of Tahanan in every piece created, fostering a sense of unity and connection among all.

Written by Renz Marrion Delim 

TEATRO TOMASINO BINUBUKSAN ANG IKA-48 TAONG PANAHON NITO SAPRODUKSYONG “KONTRATA KONTRA TAO”

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

MANILA PHILIPPINES—Inihahandog ng Teatro Tomasino, ang premier theater guild ng Unibersidad ng Santo Tomas, ang pagtatanghal ng dalawang dula na malikhang sumusuri sa pagkawala ng katarungan sahanay ng mga manggagawa. Ang Kontrata Kontra Tao ay dalawang dulang sumusuri sa peligro ng trabahong marahas at Twin Bill na binubuo ng “Joe Cool: Aplikante” ni Joshua Lim So at “Absurdo: Event Day” ni BJ Crisostomo, sa direksyon nina Ingrid Joyce, Angel Ocampo, at Marga Alfar.

Sa panahon kung saan patuloy na laganap ang karahasan sa sistema ng trabaho, ang produksyon ay nagsisilbing tulay upang mabigyang pribilehiyo ang manonood na maunawaan kung paano unti-unti at kolektibong mabubuwag ang kapaitang matagal nang naka-ukit sa proseso ng pagtrabaho.

Ngayong ika-48 na taon ng Teatro Tomasino, muling naipamamalas ang talento at kasanayan sa larangan ng sining gawa ng pagsunod sa tema na “Sibol” na may layunin na pagyamanin ang kakayahan na maging alas ng sining, sa bawat yugto at bawat puso. Kung kaya’t ang pagbibigay buhay sa Twin Bill na ito ay bunga ng pagsibol ng masining at makabuluhang pagkamit ng kaginhawaan sa hangin ng trabahong patuloy na pumipiring at humahadlang.

Ang Kontrata Kontra Tao ay itatanghal sa Nobyembre 13 (12NH, 3 NH at 6 NG), Nobyembre 14 at 15 (10 NU, 12:30, 3 NH at 6 NG), at Nobyembre 16 (11NU, 2NH at 5NH) na gaganapin sa UST Miguel de Benavides Auditorium University of Santo Tomas. Para sa mga ticket inquiries at karagdagang detalye, bisitahin ang Teatro Tomasino - UST sa Facebook at Instagram o lapitan sina Kervin Nobleza (0915 1235959) at Christian Ayque (0905 364 0166)

From Ideas to Impact: Taiwan Takes Center Stage at the Asia Pacific Circular Economy Roundtable & Hotspot 2025

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

In late October 2025, Taipei became more than just a city: it became an epicenter for circular-economy ambition. The joint forum of the 2nd Asia Pacific Circular Economy Roundtable (APCER) and the inaugural Asia‑Pacific Circular Economy Hotspot invites governments, business leaders, innovators and civil-society actors to unite under one banner: “Leading Circular Collaboration.” 

With Taiwan hosting the first Hotspot in the Asia-Pacific region, the stakes were high — and the symbolism unmistakable. This is a call to turn circular economy from theory into scale; from pilot projects into industrial systems; from “good ideas” into “good business.” 

Why this event matters — and why now

Global resource flows are under stress. Manufacturing hubs in the Asia-Pacific face rising environmental burdens: material scarcity, supply‐chain disruption, waste leakage into oceans and communities. The linear “take-make-dispose” model is failing not only the planet, but competitive business models.

Enter the circular economy: a paradigm where resource loops are closed, value is retained, and business models shift from volume to value, from ownership to service. Taiwan isn’t just embracing this shift — it seeks to lead it. The host nation boasts municipal recycling rates of 59 % and industrial rates up to 85 % as of 2023. 

The event’s thematic engine is anchored in what the organisers call the “Circular Trilogy”:

Good Ideas → the innovations and design thinking around circular business models

Good Governance → policy frameworks, regulatory instruments, international collaboration

Good Business → deploying scalable value chains, commercial viability, circular supply-chains 

By bringing these three together, the 2025 Roundtable & Hotspot is positioned as much more than a conference — it is a launch-pad for action across borders and sectors.

What’s on offer: Program highlights & immersive experiences

Immersive site visits

On 21 October, attendees embarked on six themed industry tours, showcasing Taiwan’s circular economy in action:

Agriculture & Food

Textiles

High-tech & Electronics

Architecture & Construction

Plastics & Packaging

Community-driven circular business models 

These tours promise real-world immersion — from biomaterial agriculture to reuse loops in textiles, from industrial symbiosis in electronics to circular building in architecture.

The conference days: 22-23 October

Key themes include:

Policy & Governance: outlining how governments and regulators enable circular transitions

Financial Enablers: exploring financing, investment, business incentives for circular models

Business Transformation: how companies pivot from linear to circular operations

Trade & Traceability: supply-chain transparency, material passports, cross-border flows

Consumer Engagement: lifestyle transformation, circular procurement, zero-waste living 

Exhibition & Networking — The “Circular-Cross Expo”

Running 23-26 October at the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, this expo brings the circular economy into tactile form:

Showcase of benchmark enterprises, circular start-ups, industrial transformation models

AI-powered matchmaking for cross-border partnerships

Workshops and lifestyle experiences where circular design becomes everyday practice 

Taiwan’s Circulation Story: From Policy to Practice

The backdrop to this event was Taiwan’s own circular economy journey — and it’s a rich one. Taiwan has embedded resource circulation and net-zero ambitions into national strategy: in 2022 it added “resource circulation zero waste” into its net-zero roadmap. 

Some key pillars:

Closed-loop recycling in hard-to‐manage sectors (textiles, plastics, electronics)

Industrial symbiosis: high-tech sector turns resource scarcity into impetus for reuse, regeneration 

Policy mechanisms: circular procurement, industrial alliances, ecosystem networks driving the transition 

By hosting the Asia-Pacific Hotspot, Taiwan invites the region to “step inside” its operations — not merely admire them from afar. It positions itself not only as practitioner but as hub for cross-border collaboration. 

Connecting to the International Workshop on Circular Economy & Sustainable Policy

Alongside the Roundtable & Hotspot, Taiwan also hosted the International Workshop on Circular Economy and Sustainable Policy Implementation — a complementary forum spotlighting evidence, policy frameworks and scaling mechanisms for circular transition. 

This workshop is important because it directly engages with the “governance” pillar of the circular trilogy: bringing policy makers, researchers and practitioners together to discuss how circular economy principles become embedded into national policy, supply-chain regulation, public procurement and funding mechanisms.

It signals that the 2025 week in Taipei wasn’t just about showcasing innovation — it is about operational-ising it: policy → governance → business.

Why stakeholders should care now

Businesses: This is a unique opportunity to partner, network and integrate into Asia-Pacific supply-chains shifting to circular models. The matchmaking sessions and Expo deliver concrete collaboration platforms.

Policy makers: The event offered a living laboratory — Taiwan’s experience is both a model and a spring-board. Lessons learned can shape national circular road-maps across the region.

Investors & financiers: As circular economy evolves, the risk/return profiles of resource‐efficient, regenerative business models are changing — this event surfaces early signals.

Start-ups & innovators: Immersive site-visits and the expo provide exposure to industrial ecosystems, potential pilots, and scaling opportunities across sectors.

Civil society & researchers: From consumer engagement to lifecycle assessment, the event deep-dives into how circular economy is not just industrial, but societal — how it affects daily lives, behaviours and communities.

What to watch — key questions and themes

From pilot to scale: Many circular economy initiatives remain niche or local. Can Taiwan’s ecosystem showcase how to scale efficiently?

Cross-border collaboration: Circularity often means supply chains and material flows that transcend borders. How will the event enable meaningful international cooperation in the Asia-Pacific?

Governance and measurement: Good governance means rules, incentives, metrics. Will national circular road-maps move from abstract to actionable — with measurable outcomes?

Business viability: Circular economy is often pitched as “good for the planet” — but must also be “good for business”. Which sectors and models prove both?

Consumer & lifestyle integration: Industrial transformation is one thing — but circularity also requires consumer behaviour change, urban infrastructure, service-design. How visible was that at the event?

A Spotlight on the “2050 Circular Economy Roadmap”

The timelines stretching to 2030 and then 2050 underscores the long-view orientation of Taiwan’s strategy. By 2050 Taiwan aims for net-zero and full circular economy. The path from today to 2030 and then 2050 is broken into key domains: legislation/regulation, eco-design/upstream reduction, circular procurement, energy/resource efficiency, technology innovation, education & training.

This long-horizon roadmap illustrates two truths:

Circular transformation is systemic — it spans multiple sectors (textiles, plastics, high-tech, construction) and multiple stakeholders (government, industry, academic, civil society).

Momentum matters: the sooner action accelerates, the more feasible the 2050 vision becomes. The 2025 event is a catalytic moment — not a final chapter.

Looking ahead: what this means for the Asia-Pacific region

By hosting the first Asia-Pacific CE Hotspot, Taiwan signals regional leadership — but the success of the event depends on the region showing up. The Asia-Pacific is home to critical material flows, manufacturing hubs, and waste streams — and therefore critical opportunity. The event is thus both symbolic and strategic: symbolically, it claims Taiwan as a circular pivot; strategically, it invites the region to integrate and collaborate.

For other Asia-Pacific nations, this forum offered:

A chance to benchmark against Taiwan’s progress — both the achievements and the challenges.

An opportunity to connect with supply-chains and innovation networks shifting to circularity.

A platform to influence regional frameworks, standards, and trade practices around circular materials and resource flows.

In Closing: The Call to Action

“Leading Circular Collaboration” is more than a catchy theme — it is a demand. The climate crisis, resource depletion and waste accumulation are not distant threats: they are today’s reality. The 2025 Roundtable & Hotspot in Taipei invites us not to admire circular economy from afar, but to immerse, connect, transform.

Taiwan has rolled out the red carpet — now the global circular economy community must step in. If the event succeeds in turning good ideas into good business, underpinned by good governance — then the impact will ripple beyond Taipei. The Asia-Pacific could become the next great frontier of circular transition.

For participants, like Ross Flores Del Rosario, Director of Bayanihan Para Sa Kalikasan Movement (BKM) and the founder of Wazzup Pilipinas, who attended the event in Taiwan, one message stands out: don’t just observe circular economy — become part of its evolution.