Meet Our Faculty and Mentors

Idr. Cai Lim Regala

Ma. Carmen R. Lim – Regala, P.I.I.D., MFA is the main designer at CRL Designs, a design firm that has won awards in the Asia Pacific. She was recognized for her interior design skills by Condo Living magazine in 2013. She studied advertising arts at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) and interior design at the Philippine School of Interior Design (PSID). She also has a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Philippine Women’s University (PWU). She is a member of the Philippine Institute of Interior Designers (PIID) and the PSID Academic Board. Cai was a founding member of the PSID Alumni Association and has been involved in various design organizations. She is the incumbent Executive Director for Professional Practice and Ethics of the Philippine Institute of Interior Designers.

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Idr. Carol Peña

With over a decade of experience in interior design since 2008, Carol Peña brings a distinctive artistic vision to every project, treating each one as a site-specific art installation with meticulous attention to detail. A seasoned colorist and professor of color theory since 2010, she perceives color not merely as pigments or light but as the very essence of life, seamlessly blending vibrancy and harmony into her designs.

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Idr. Jie Pambid

Jie Pambid is the creative brains behind the show stopping interior displays of all OUR HOME branches, which he does apart from being the Vice President for Academic Affairs of the Philippine School of Interior Design and the Creative Director of JPLake and Associates. Jie specializes in residential interior design which merged well during his stint as an Editor-In-Chief for two major interior design publications. His upward trajectory in these various fields in the interior design industry is really no surprise since he was the first ever PRC Board Topnotcher in interior design from PSID.

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Idr. Nicky T. Jardenil

Nicky T. Jardenil has been a prominent figure in the field of interior design, practicing and teaching for over three decades. An architecture enthusiast, he discovered his passion for interior design after completing certificate courses at the Philippine School of Interior Design (PSID). He later earned a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design and Habitat Development from the Philippine Women’s University.

As a dedicated professor, ldr. Jardenil has been instrumental in shaping young designers and is one of the creative forces behind PSID’s annual graduation exhibitions. His career trajectory could have taken a different path if not for a pivotal moment—a "sign from above"—that led him to win the grand prize at the 1993 Eurotiles Design Exposition and achieve top marks in the 1990 licensure exams.

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Arch. Gino Bjorn A. Abrera

Gino Abrera is the visionary co-founder and driving force behind AEDEFY, an architectural, interior, and urban design consultancy renowned for delivering comprehensive, concept-to-completion solutions for premier corporate and private clients. Boasting a heavy-hitting skill set as both a licensed architect (2007) and a licensed interior designer, Gino seamlessly bridges structural integrity with interior aesthetics. His expert command over spatial design and technical execution is reflected in AEDEFY's impressive portfolio of hotels, commercial spaces, and residential developments. When he isn't executing large-scale projects, Gino shares his extensive, real-world expertise in the classroom, serving as a trusted professor at PSID where he masterfully commands fundamental technical courses like Specs Writing.

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Arch. Karen B. Iledan, UAP, PIID, MAFAD

Karen Abrera is one half of the powerhouse leadership behind AEDEFY, a multidisciplinary architectural, interior, and urban design consultancy she co-founded in 2013. A rare and formidable force in the industry, Karen holds elite dual credentials as both a licensed architect and a licensed interior designer, incredibly topping off both board exams in the exact same year in 2008. Her diverse expertise shines through AEDEFY’s sprawling portfolio, where she steers high-stakes corporate and private projects—spanning offices, residences, and luxury resorts—from initial concept to full construction implementation. Beyond her thriving practice, Karen is a beloved and foundational figure at PSID, dedicating her time to molding the next generation of design talent through core courses like Freehand Drawing and Basic Interior Design.

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Idr. Leo Lino Monthermoso Almeria, FPIID, MCHS

IDr. Leo Lino Monthermoso Almeria, FPIID, MCHS, interior designer and cultural heritage worker from Tacloban City. An active member (College of Fellows) of the Philippine Institute of Interior Designers (PIID), he is the principal of the Leo Almeria Design Studio (LADS), which is engaged in interior design services both in the Philippines and abroad. He is also a faculty member of the Philippine School of Interior Design and the Graduate School of the University of Sto. Tomas, Manila.

Mr. Almeria started work in the design staff of Edith L. Oliveros, FPIID and later became an associate of Russell Emmert, ASID (U.S.A.). He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy degree (magna cum laude) from the Divine Word Seminary and a graduate of the Philippine School of Interior Design. He also holds a master’s degree in Cultural Heritage Studies (magna cum laude) and attended the Development Studies Doctoral Program of the University of Sto. Tomas. He is a recipient of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) 2008 Outstanding Professional of the Year Award in the field of Interior Design.

Mr. Almeria is an advocate in heritage conservation, green interior design and tropical architecture.

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Arch. Armando B. Dela Vega, MEM, MBA

Armando "Mandy" Dela Vega is the mastermind behind abVEGA DesignBuild Solutions, a design and construction firm where he serves as Principal Architect and Owner. Seamlessly bridging the gap between architectural vision and structural execution, Mandy boasts a powerhouse academic foundation that pairs a BS in Architecture with two advanced degrees: a Master of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Science in Engineering Management. His elite dual expertise in creative design and corporate strategy makes him a formidable force in the industry. Beyond his thriving practice, Mandy is dedicated to molding the future of the profession, sharing his extensive, and real-world knowledge as a professor at PSID since 2005.