Raine Montecillo

My project explored how design could preserve and reinterpret Filipino food heritage for younger generations living overseas. I was guided by the challenge of cultural disconnection and how many second-generation Filipinos grow up with adapted versions of traditional dishes, detached from their original stories and meanings. I wanted to bridge that gap through an experience that felt personal, sensory, and alive.

I developed Pamana, an immersive dining and storytelling brand that frames food as a living archive. Through the design of menus, postcards, a take-home gift pack of Filipino condiments, and an illustrated book, I created a degustation journey where each course unfolded a narrative of memory and identity. My process combined illustration, editorial design, and material experimentation, using tactile and hand-drawn elements.

By blending food and design, Pamana turns cultural preservation into something to taste, touch, and remember, inviting guests to rediscover their roots and spark pride, curiosity, and connection. It demonstrates how design can serve as both a form of storytelling and bridge between generations, keeping heritage alive in contemporary contexts.