If there is a race that goes for Maximalism, that is the Pinoy. As Prof. Felipe de Leon, Jr. and former Commissioner of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts said in 2012, “The common Filipino is a maximalist, filling up every available space with forms and things. It springs from an expressive exuberance deeply rooted in emotional sensitivity and the strong urge to connect.”
Now I understand why my attempts at having a minimalist interior style in the 2000s always ended up a bit messy over time, despite regular, repeated curation. Those who have a Scandi or Japandi interior style, which is minimalist in nature in mostly white or light neutral colors and wood accents, may experience the same thing. Aminin!
We have a few words that talk about the things we surround ourselves with—anik-anik, ano-ano, abubot and burloloy, Ar. Clarissa M. Lorenzo in a paper she wrote in 2015 defined the last two terms as follows:
“Abubot is linked with knick-knacks or trinkets. It is a decorative item or ornament, a detail usually useless but one holds on to because it was given as souvenir or gift becoming priceless and difficult to part with. Filipinos are known to keep most everything as collectibles such as a birthday candle, wedding invitation or a party table’s centerpiece.
Burloloy is something that is added to a whole: an accessory, item or detail that completes. It is associated with abubot; having lesser importance based on the consultations with professionals from different fields. It is a supplement as art, a way of expressing themselves. It is a sign of their individuality, the desire to stand out. It is apparent in the Philippine jeepney with their colorful metal bodies and elaborately decorated dashboards.”
What can I say? We’re a sentimental bunch, who also want to stand out as individuals. Add to that this feeling of wanting to be frugal and not throwing away things because sayang, or baka magamit ko…mo…nila iyan some time in the unforeseeable future. Full disclosure: I have a pile of round and rectangular plastic boxes with mismatched lids, paper and plastic bags that I may use this Christmas, never mind that they are growing in number and many Christmases have passed. I’ve always blamed the fruits for all the black ants that are sharing my space without paying rent. But there’s a niggling suspicion now that it could be my stashes of whatever.
In case you’re wondering, the previous paragraph is not maximalism, it’s more of a hoarding disorder.
What is Maximalism?
Maximalism is seen as a reaction to minimalism. People got tired of “less is more” and embraced “more is more’. It has its roots in the 17th and 18th centuries when designers highly decorated impressive interiors on a grand scale with the design styles Baroque, Rococo, and Neoclassicism, in that order. Think gilded mirrors, tapestries, jaw-dropping chandeliers (Phantom of the Opera, anyone?), and other grand decorations.
“While Baroque, Rococo, and Neoclassicism all contain aspects of maximalism by curating impressive interiors on a large scale, it was not until the mid-19th century that the Victorian era achieved a truly maximalist look by mixing art, objects, colours and prints across time.” (Design Space)
Today, the “more is more” mindset is back with the profusion of colors, textures, patterns, and collections that span different time periods. Look at how Gen Z style their homes.
The Gen Z Aesthetic: How Young People are Styling Their Homes
Years before Gen Z embraced maximalism, Boysen came out with the Maximal color palette in 2017. Check out this link in the Boysen Color Trend website.
A more recent color palette that is bright and vibrant and that could be used for the maximalist design style is Abundance of Boysen Color Trend 2024-2025.
Filipino Maximalism
The paint colors are bold, dramatic, and flamboyant. If you think about it, these adjectives describe the Filipino people.
Animist and religious rituals among the different ethnolinguistic groups in the country are abundant in meaning and color. We love zarzuelas, kundimans, haranas, fiestas. Our weaves are bright and intricate, sometimes with the glimmer of metallic threads.
Translated in interiors, this style is opulent and excessive. There could be wisdom in embracing this style: an antidote to the somber news we get locally and globally.
I want to share this video by Prof. Felipe de Leon, Jr., where he defines how highly relational the Filipino is, which makes us learn so many different things, and makes us “versatile and multitalented.”
It may also be the reason why we prefer polychronicity, meaning working on two or more activities at the same time. Multitasker ang Pinoy. I would argue that this is also maximalism.
Ang saya lang, di ba?
To get more masaya posts quickly, subscribe to this blog.
