S U N D AY : N O V E M B E R 1 5 , 2 0 1 5
C4
The book’s authors Mark Lewis Higgins and Gino Gonzales
LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph
Ms. Pilita Corrales singing for the crowd during the event
@LIFEatStandard
Ching Cruz in an Albert Andrada design
Isabel Daza in a vintage terno worn by her late aunt Rio Díaz-Cojuangco
Karylle Yuzon’s terno is designed by another SLIM’s designer Yvonne Tabanao
Of Barongs, Ternos, and Fashionable Filipinos
M
anila Peninsula’s than just a book about the Rigodon Ballroom dress,” says Mark, “it’s really was like a film set of the story of the birth of the Pilipinas: Back to the nation, as we like to say, Future during the launch of because clothing is very much the book Fashionable Filipinas: a mirror of history, and you’ll An Evolution of the Philippine see this in the book.” National Dress in Photographs CAROTID ARTERY The book features the 1860-1960 at the Manila evolution of what became BY TATUM ANCHETA Peninsula last November the national dress, which is 10. Old meets new as celebrities, designers, the terno, laid out with studio photographs members of the media, socialites and different during the 1860s until the 1960s. “It’s a personalities walked the red carpet donned fascinating trip through the Victorian era, in their vintage and modern ternos. Everyone two world wars, and past the atomic age wore something borrowed, something new and because the book begins in 1860 and ends something they designed themselves. in 1960,” adds Mark. It was fun to witness one of the best events The book took two years to create and where people went out of their usual gowns it was supported by the best names in the and played dress up with their versions of fashion and arts industry. “Yes, the Japanese Filipiniana. Nowadays, you’ll only get to have the kimono, the Chinese have the witness events like these during Buwan ng cheongsam, and the Indian have the sari, Wika or special themed events, or the SONA so we Filipinos must have the same reverence (which sometimes gets to be a parade of the for the terno. Doing so will give a sense of worst versions of ternos that ever existed, pride and appreciation for our own,” says Ben remember that yellow green parachute?). Chan – who published the book under his “I think the terno always evolves but you giant retail chain Bench – during the launch. need to do it intelligently,” says Mark Lewis “I think that every Filipino regardless of Higgins (co-director of Slim’s Fashion & age, status, and generation have something Arts School), as he talks about the new to learn from this book. It is not just for book he co-authored with Gino Gonzales Filipinos’ fashion in the present, but for (scenographer and lecturer at Ateneo de Filipinos of the future,” he adds. Manila University). “You need to understand During the event, most of the Bench first where it came from before you endorsers wore ternos and barong Tagalog manipulate it in any particular direction,” made by Slim’s Fashion & Arts School student he adds. “Gino and I both work in schools designers. One of the crowd favorites was and we’re both exposed to young students the tuxedo terno of SLIM’s president and and we realized they had no clue about the director Sandy Higgins made by up and terno, it’s becoming forgotten, and it’s the coming designer Nina Gatan. Two of the national dress of the country. And I thought, vintage ternos worthy to highlight is the it was time to re-educate them.” one worn by editor-in-chhief of L’Officiel Fashionable Filipinas is a fresh approach Manila’s Pam Quinones which was used by to the story of the terno; its modern layout the late First Lady Leonila Garcia, wife of appeals to the modern interest of the public, the late president Carlos P. Garcia, and the specially the younger generation. “It’s more terno worn by Silk Cocoon designer Katrina Goulbourn-Feist from the vintage collection of Salvacion Lim Higgins.
Fashionable Filipinas: An Evolution of the Philippine National Dress in Photographs 1860-1960 by Gino Gonzales and Mark Lewis Higgins
Fashionable Filipinas: An Evolution of the Philippine National Dress in Photographs, 18601960 coffee-table book is available at Bench and Dimensione stores. Copies of the book will be donated to the Ayala Foundation for school distribution and the Cultural Center of the Philippines will have the book in its library.
Gretchen Baretto wearing an Inno Sotto
Liz Uy by SLIM’s Hannah Adrias
Sarah Meier in a Vania Romoff creation
Jeannie Goulborn in a Silk Cocoon dress designed by her daughter Katrina Goulbourn-Feist who is wearing a vintage terno by Salvacion Lim Higgins.
Paolo Avelino wearing a barong designed by Mary Camille Angeline Veloso from SLIM’s and Solenn Heusaff in an Ivan Ruiz, also a student Tessa Prieto-Valdes in a from SLIM’s Pablo Mendez terno
Joey Samson in his own creation
Fashion designer Len Cabili in a vintage terno
Eddie Garcia in a Paul Cabral barong
Luis Espiritu wearing a Joey Samson barong
Editor-in-chief of L’Officiel Manila’s Pam Quinones in a vintage terno worn by the former first lady Leonila Garcia, L’Officiel Manila’s publisher Vicky FlorendoMontenegro in a Nina Gatan design, and this editor in an old Santi Obcena dress
Sarah Lahbati wearing SLIM’s Abdul Gaffar Abdullah Dianalan terno and Richard Gutierrez in a barong designed by SLIM’s Banjo Cordero
Noel Manapat in Sandy Higgins wearing a tuxedo a Bea Samson terno by Nina Gatan bespoke barong
Borgy Manotoc Lucy TorresGomez in a terno in his own done by the late design Joe Salazar
Jo Ann Bitagcol wearing a Joey Samson terno
Mark Nicdao wearing a barong by Mark Heyes
Graham Caygill wearing a Randy Ortiz barong and Dingdong Dantes by Tria