Selina's Obra Maestra
When everyone was busy climbing the corporate ladder, Selina Selma-Romualdez left her promising career to chase her dreams.
With her parents as inspiration, she had always dreamed of running her own furniture company. Growing up with her family’s factory as her playground, it was natural for her to take on the challenge.
“When I grow up, I want to have my own furniture company just like mom and dad,” she said back then, holding these words close to her heart like a mantra.
Selina worked for the family’s business for eight years after graduating with double majors in Business Administration and Marketing Management from Northwood University. She moved to take on uncharted territories and try out retail. After four years of intense training in the retail industry handling marketing and merchandising for the Vis-Min regions of Rustan’s Supercenters, Selina realized how much she loved the furniture business.
She and husband Justin Romualdez gave themselves timelines for corporate exposure. Not really knowing what was ahead of them, Obra Cebuana fell into their hands. Justin acquired the business for Selina two Christmases ago to turn her dream into reality.
Obra Cebuana is a world-class furniture manufacturer established by the Arcenas family in 1990. The brand mixes the rich Visayan culture, heritage, and artistry into every piece. With the young power couple behind the company today, they’re taking it to greater heights fueled by their vision and dedication.
As a furniture manufacturer, Selina is drawn into timeless pieces using local materials and techniques inspired by our heritage. She noted that their design philosophy is just like a conservative Filipina. Obra Cebuana’s patterns and weaves speak with refinement and finesse, leaving a delicate memoir and a story. The brand aims to strengthen Cebuano craftsmanship and ingenuity, intertwining textures and patterns of indigenous materials woven by generations of expert craftsmen.
Asked about what she thought of Cebu’s furniture industry, she considered it to be dwindling. However, she’s optimistic that the best of the best will still be thriving 10 years down the road.
“I’ll be one of the few with unwavering respect and love for the industry, mark my word,” Selina promised.