“Piñakamamahal” (Most Beloved “Pineapple”) is a visual homage to the cultural and historical significance of the pineapple in the Philippines. Inspired by the elegance of calado and embroidery techniques on piña fabric—a sheer, delicate textile made from pineapple leaf fibers traditionally used in formal Filipino attire such as the barong tagalog and terno. This piece transposes that intricate craft onto a symbolic tableau.

At the heart of the composition is a monumental pineapple, rendered in a stylized embroidery motif. The fruit becomes both centerpiece and metaphor, representing Filipino hospitality, colonial encounter, agricultural heritage, and the enduring beauty of indigenous craftsmanship.

Flanking the pineapple are two human figures clad in embroidered garments, evoking the pre and post-colonial narratives of identity and transformation. The fine stitching of clouds, flora, and a rooster (symbolizing resilience and dawn) surrounds the central fruit, enclosed in a doily-like frame that mimics the hand-stitched hems of traditional clothing.

The entire piece rests on a background pattern of stylized palm fronds and delicate hearts, echoing the romanticism and labor of embroidery passed down through generations—once confined to garments, now elevated to storytelling.

By recontextualizing embroidery from clothing to cotton (paper), Piñakamamahal reclaims and celebrates the pineapple as more than a fruit: it is a vessel of memory, artistry, and national pride.