Interview Patrick Kasingsing
Introduction Danielle Austria
Images LIXIL (American Standard)
Few names in design have stayed as quietly present as American Standard. For 150 years, its fittings and fixtures have shaped the spaces where people begin and end their day. From homes to hotels, kitchens to stadiums, the brand has helped define what the modern bathroom feels like—a mix of comfort, practicality, and self-care.
Across the world, American Standard keeps finding new ways to make daily living easier and more intuitive. The iF Design Awards, Good Design Awards, and DFA Design for Asia Awards have recognized its designs. Each piece shows how style and purpose can come together in everyday routines. Built to last and designed to save water, these products make good design feel effortless.
As it marks this milestone year, American Standard looks back on its journey while keeping its eye on how people live today. In the Philippines, that instinct comes through in spaces that value reliability as much as beauty. Hermie Fernando Limbo, Leader of LIXIL Water Technology Philippines, and Liza Rachel Cancino, Leader of Project Channel business and CRM for LIXIL Water Technology Asia Pacific, share how the brand’s enduring legacy of design and innovation continues to create homes that the families will love every day.
Liza Rachel Cancino, Leader of Project Channel business and CRM for LIXIL Water Technology Asia Pacific Hermie Fernando Limbo, Leader of LIXIL Water Technology Philippines
Interview with Hermie Limbo, LIXIL Philippines
Hello, Hermie! Congratulations on American Standard’s 150th anniversary. If you had to choose one American Standard product that best represents the brand’s impact in Filipino homes, which would it be, and why?”
Hermie Limbo, country leader of LIXIL Water Technology Philippines: I would choose the Loven Collection because its wide range of products is well-suited for the different needs in multigenerational homes, which are prevalent in Filipino families.
From your perspective, what has helped American Standard remain a trusted name in Filipino homes? How does it come through in collections like Loven?
Hermie Limbo: We’ve continuously developed products that reflect local living realities, from compact urban bathrooms to multigenerational households sharing a single space. Collections like Loven address these needs with space-saving designs that integrate seamlessly into Filipino homes.
Reliability builds trust. Filipino families know that American Standard products are durable, hygienic, and crafted to last, often serving households for many years. The confidence and loyalty of our customers inspire us to continue innovating thoughtfully so every home can depend on American Standard for hygiene, comfort, and value.
Filipino buyers are practical but also design-conscious. As lifestyles evolve, how does American Standard strike that balance in its product lines today?
Hermie Limbo: We empower homeowners to create spaces they love through purposeful design and trusted performance. Collections like Acacia SupaSleek exemplify our commitment to modern design without compromising performance.
We recognize the growing demand for eco-friendly solutions. Our products are designed with water-saving technologies and durable materials, ensuring long-term value. As lifestyles change, we continue to innovate—from dual-flush systems to smart solutions like E-lite integrated shower toilets.
You mentioned how lifestyles and technologies evolve together. Can you tell us more about how newer innovations like Microbubble and AccuStream shape that experience for modern homes?
Hermie Limbo: We understand the unique needs of Filipino households. Our innovations like Microbubble and AccuStream technologies are designed to address concerns around hygiene, water efficiency, and comfort, ensuring that every Filipino home can enjoy a premium bathroom experience.
Besides providing a revitalizing shower experience, our microbubble technology uses ultra-fine bubble-infused water droplets that are smaller than skin pores. The bubbles are hydrophobic – hence they can attract dirt and more effectively remove them from the skin’s pores, while using significantly less water compared to traditional methods. The increased surface area of Microbubbles allows for better coverage and heat retention, enhancing comfort while promoting water conservation. Our AccuStream technology uses a touchless sensor to deliver a precise and consistent water flow, ensuring optimal performance with every use. This precision enhances user convenience, hygiene, and also minimizes water use.
Sustainability is now non-negotiable for many homeowners. How is American Standard embedding it into products for the local market?
Hermie Limbo: It all starts with LIXIL, the brand owner and maker of American Standard. LIXIL’s Environmental Vision 2050 is committed to “Zero Carbon and Circular Living”. This policy aims to reduce carbon emissions from its business processes, products, and services to net zero by 2050. Our goal is to be a leader in this field, when it comes to preserving water and limited resources for future generations.
LIXIL has a global sustainability goal, particularly on the United Nations SDG No. 6, which focuses on water conservation and environmental sustainability. An example is the Acacia Evolution Toilet, which features a dual-flush system that minimizes water usage, and the Easy Set Mixer, which uses push-and-turn technology. American Standard is committed to offering energy-efficient solutions, ensuring that Filipinos are able to not only conserve water but also reduce energy consumption.
As part of your celebrations, you launched a raffle promo with Wilcon. Aside from the prizes, what do you want Filipino customers to take away from this milestone celebration?
Hermie Limbo: The raffle is our way of celebrating this historic milestone and to thank our customers who have supported us across the years. For generations, American Standard has been a trusted companion in homes—supporting family moments, routines, and connections that matter most. As we step into the next chapter, the brand remains committed to designing products that enable Filipinos to love where they live, no matter who or where they are, a continued legacy that began 150 years ago.
What role do you see the Philippines playing in American Standard’s growth story across Asia-Pacific?
Hermie Limbo: The Philippines is a key market in the Asia-Pacific region. As the country develops, we see tremendous opportunities to create better homes through close collaborations with architects, designers, industry partners, and key customers. By working together, we can develop solutions that respond directly to the needs and preferences of Filipino households, ensuring that American Standard continues with purposeful innovation that meets local needs. These partnerships form the foundation of our growth.
Interview with Liz Cancino, LIXIL Asia Pacific
Hello, Liz! It’s great to have you join the conversation. If you could describe American Standard’s design philosophy as a personality or character, what would it be?
Liz Cancino, leader for project channel business and CRM for LIXIL Water Technology Asia Pacific: I would say it’s like a caring and thoughtful friend — someone dependable who is always there to make life better. At its core, our design values are pioneering, thoughtful, and dependable. But as a “person,” the American Standard brand would come across as warm and considerate, always anticipating people’s needs and creating solutions that make daily living more comfortable and enjoyable. For 150 years, that balance of innovation and empathy has guided our approach — design that not only looks good, but genuinely cares for the people who use it.
You mentioned how design goes hand in hand with care and innovation. How do technologies like DuoSTiX and WizFlo embody that balance?
Liz Cancino: Traditionally, technology in bathroom design has been seen as something purely functional and separate from aesthetics. What makes innovations like DuoSTiX and WizFlo exciting is that they go beyond surface beauty to address something even more fundamental: hygiene and performance.
For example, the removable head design ensures easy cleaning, which means cleaner water flow and better long-term performance with no residue build-up. For architects and designers, this opens up a new dimension of conversation: it’s not only about how a space looks, but also how it performs over time for the people who use it. These technologies make it possible to design bathrooms that are not just visually appealing, but also healthier, more sustainable, and dependable in daily use. That’s where we see real resonance with professionals — when design, technology, and user well-being come together seamlessly.
And when you’re talking to project partners, what kind of feedback do you usually hear about the bathroom’s role in creating “moments” within a home or building?
Liz Cancino: When we speak with our project partners, one of the most common points of feedback is how bathrooms have become more than just functional spaces. They’re places where people pause, refresh, and enjoy simple daily life moments. The American Standard brand plays a big role in creating those experiences. Our products are designed to be dependable and intuitive, so users can focus on enjoying the moment — whether that’s the comfort of a refreshing shower after a long day or the reassurance of hygienic solutions for their families.
That ability to transform everyday routines into meaningful moments is what partners value most, and it’s where the American Standard brand has been making a difference for 150 years.
Speaking of spaces beyond the home, how is American Standard adapting its solutions for larger-scale developments like condominiums, hotels, or public projects here in the Philippines?
Liz Cancino: The American Standard brand has always played an important role in both residential and commercial spaces. For homes, our products are designed to enrich everyday living, bringing comfort, hygiene, and thoughtful design that turn daily routines into enjoyable moments.
On the commercial side — whether it’s condominiums, hotels, offices, or public facilities — our focus is on delivering dependable solutions that enhance the overall user experience while complementing the architect’s and designer’s vision. This means products that can withstand high-frequency use, ensure hygiene and water efficiency, and still integrate seamlessly into the aesthetics of the space.
By addressing both residential and commercial needs, the American Standard brand continues to be a trusted partner in shaping environments where people live, work, and gather — making life healthier, safer, and more enjoyable.
This year’s campaign is about ‘150 Years of Everyday Moments.” From a project and design perspective, what everyday moments matter most when shaping bathrooms of the future?
Liz Cancino: For us, every daily moment matters. From the simple act of washing hands to the comfort of a relaxing shower, these are the experiences that shape how people feel in their homes and workplaces. From a project and design perspective, what matters most is creating bathrooms that support these everyday rituals seamlessly by creating spaces that are intuitive, hygienic, and dependable, while also being aesthetically pleasing.
As we look to the future, we see bathrooms not just as functional spaces, but as places that contribute to well-being, sustainability, and a better quality of life. By focusing on each of these everyday moments, the American Standard brand ensures that our designs continue to evolve with people’s changing needs, creating spaces that remain meaningful for generations to come. •
To join the American Standard 150 raffle with Wilcon Depot, follow this link.
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