Not many people know this, but during the Martial Law era, National Artist for Architecture Bobby Mañosa was also a toy designer. He had an iconic line of toys, called “Bobi Toys,” that he sold in Makati during the 1970s and 1980s, which he discontinued as his own kids grew older.
His toys have not been mass-produced in recent decades, but his grandchildren now aim to use that legacy of innovative ideas to help marginalized children in the Visayas region. Five one-of-a-kind signed art pieces based on the popular “Bobi Toys” were auctioned off during Tanaw, a fundraising initiative by the Tukod Foundation.
Tanaw consisted of a fundraiser auctioning off unique items from Bobby Mañosa’s personal archive, including the “Bobi Horse” and the “Tipaklong” designs, as well as a supper club and dinner at TOYO. Tukod Foundation partnered with Leon Gallery to better facilitate the auction of the art pieces.
The Tukod Foundation is a non-profit organization seeking to strengthen the legacy of Bobby Mañosa, currently run by his granddaughters, Isabella Tanjutco and Sabina Mañosa. The two have broad plans to host fundraisers and other activities to secure backing for their projects to build climate-resistant infrastructure for island communities across the country.
Tanjutco and Mañosa’s current focus for the Tukod Foundation is Halian Island in the Visayas region. Typhoon Odette damaged the classrooms and local infrastructure, with the classrooms remaining in a state of disrepair for more than 3 years.
“The challenge of building lasting infrastructure in this climate is stark,” the press release said about the matter. “A new government-built facility [in the area], completed as recently as August 2024, is already in disrepair. By July 2025, leaks and mold had spread across its ceilings.”
Tukod Foundation has designs for a new classroom, called Bayay Halian, that utilizes local materials and is adaptive to the changing climate and environmental conditions of our time. Its design was spearheaded by Bea Rodriguez, Bea Carague, Janelle Gan, and the teacher of Halian Island. Architects Angelo Mañosa and Dong Ping Wong mentored and guided them along the process.
“Bayay Halian is intended to serve as a model for climate-centric school design and to prove that it is possible to design good spaces for the future generations of Filipinos,” the organization said in a press release.
For Tanjutco and Mañosa, the legacy of their grandfather went beyond the nationalist architecture he fostered and his artistry and craftsmanship. It also came from his care for the Filipino people and a desire to use architecture to benefit their daily lives.
With Tukod Foundation and Tanaw, they seek to foster the kind of creativity and architecture that builds communities and allows a lasting footprint for the betterment of Filipino lives across the country.
“It is about time designers, creatives, and artists come together to change this system,” Tuko Foundation said in a press release, “and Tanaw is envisioning this possible creative future when we work together.”
Photographs from Tanaw.
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