the emotional First Mindanao Fashion Summit 2011

Even whilst a wide-eye designer in Dubai, I always look to Philippines for vis-a-vis fashion movements. Mindanao Island never seemed to be part of the race as a Fashion Capital, sure lots of fashion designers hailed from there, some have fashion houses, others make a shift to Manila/Cebu, and most found their niche abroad. But no discounting the fact that most of us welcomed the first Mindanao Fashion Summit , a new platform from the South with its promising rawness and hyperactive energy first. Mindanao is known for its beautiful expansive landscape, banana and pineapple plantations, rich seafood sources like tuna, tiger prawns and mackerels...and little did we know that it also produces brilliant minds in the field of fashion. Cagayan de Oro-the SUMMIT's venue gives off an adventurous vibe the moment you set foot in it; you always come across people smiling and willing to accept new challenges, their tryst for newness.

The creative chaos on the first fashion summit reflects the high octane excitement amongst the participating designers from the city of Cagayan de Oro and its neighboring cities of Davao and Cotabato. Supporters from Iloilo and Manila like the award winning FREDERICK PERALTA shared the runway as his way of reaching out and brotherhood to his comrades in the industry.

The Philippine's Fashion Maestro- the highly venerable Monsieur Chrisitian Espiritu was the Summit's Most Important Person as he epitomized the country's High Priest in Haute Couture, sharing some little notes and advices to Mindanao's next "Espiritu" in the future.

Manila's topnotch sartorial designer Ronaldo Arnaldo took some special moments in his busy schedules to attend the summit and do some bonding from his new found friends from the south.

It would be naive, if we thought that creativity and fashion was the only selling point, Mindanao had to offer. Nowhere else are the points of views more diverse and emotional to this new "baby" of the fashion cities, it is in the making as one most inspiring cities to be "IN". While the city may have the pool of creative brains, Mindanaoans all over the globe poured in their full support in the next fashion summit. Mindanao has heart.

The summit embodied its first "taste" to all that is chic and trendy in fashion, it is an "alternative side" for the time being aside from Cebu and the capital Manila....but there is more to it than just meets the eye....Mindanaoans felt abandoned and being left behind. The urge to be recognized, to earnmarked its presence is an ULTIMATE HIGH on the agenda. The new words: FAST TRACK/ DOUBLE TIME. They had their firsts. They are resilient people, Love PEOPLE..patience is the best quality of Mindanaoans. Surviving turmoils from the 70's, uncertainties of the 80's...bullets and fear on high noon...they survived...BRAVE and standin up High.

The city breathed fashion as the Summit staged its first runway show. Fashionistas, journalists,photographers revel in with no bats an eyelid while designers prepared on backstage their own brand of sartorial energy and adventure. They tweaked it, hemmed, steamed and did the last miracles, the mantras must be done. The future Czars and Czarinas of Chic battled and created magic with individual wand of self expression and personal fashion statement.

Their clothes created a cornucopia of colors, a discussion of ever changing definitions in designs and silhouettes...their individual platform and their dream, the the much sought light at the end of the tunnel.