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.

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.

What you Stitch is What you Rip at the recent PFW 2010 and METROWEAR

Photo credits: Bruce Casanova/StyleBible

Brian Leyva's Butterfly Sleeves METROWEAR 2010
A sense of comparison prevailed at both Phil. Fashion Week (PFW) and Metrowear; a disappointing scenario when both parties are dedicatedly striving to bring together the best designers to laud and promote the Philippine fashion scene. Showcasing twice, Spring/Summer-Holiday every year, (PFW),and once yearly (Metrowear).. maybe some mistakenly think they are presenting identical silhouettes every season and simply smearing them with a fall colour palette will garner them commercial and critical success.

Gerry Katigbak METROWEAR 2010
While the Philippine Fashion Week is steering in the right direction to make it to an enviable position on the global fashion calendar, Metrowear's focus remains domestic, improving every year with glitches addressed and ironed out, focusing on what’s positive, who the worthy newsmakers are, where the maximum creative prowess can be seen...still talents prevailed and the ego-circus remained on the sidelights.  

Angelo Estera PFW 2010
But this is not an investigative probe... just a synopsis of what has unfurled. What do multiple fashion weeks signify in our country? To understand, analyse and predict the stakes, we need to study the industry facts and views from the perspectives of optimism and scepticism.

METROWEAR Entry
Focus: ‘International’ The Philippine Fashion Week, the trend is “in sync with international practices where there are several simultaneous events during a week”. New York, Milan, Paris and London — making the whole activity much more streamlined.Metrowear still remained local.

Jun-jun Cambe PFW 2010
Is there a possibility of creating one spirit ,one fashion showcase?...on a larger picture scale? This brings concerns about the portrayal of the disharmony, no unity amongst our fraternity. Is “professionalism "ready to go ahead with integrity and consistency...?

METROWEAR ENTRY
Focus: ‘Options’ Multiple fashion showcase, signifies the presence of a larger number of participants, and therefore, more variety for the consumers, publicists and buyers to choose from, each providing their own aesthetics and images. Thiese events are well-run by well-reputed organisations,with more or less wide magnitude, proper marketing, infrastructure and funding.

Frederick Peralta PFW 2010
Focus: ‘Platform’ There would now be more platforms, giving younger designers a chance to showcase their dreams and encouraging more talents. Fashion schools like FIP and SOFA would greatly benifit in these events. More people get opportunity.”

Lyle Ybanez PFW 2010
More categories give more designers with different sensibilities and the chances to show their kind of fashion and style.Exposure, markets, extra opportunity and experimentations are the positive outcomes in these annual events. On one hand there are young, talented designers who are getting the scope to showcase and keep senior designers on their toes. But the flipside is that a lot of undeserving candidates fill the spaces…more through money and celebrity contacts, than real talent.

John Herrera PFW 2010

Focus: ‘Competition’ With more names vying for the limelight, there is pressure to innovate, raise quality standards and also create competitive price points. The industry is at its razor-sharp, cut-throat zenith, with someone always looming— to replace a weak candidate.

  Emily Sy PFW2010
‘Healthy competition’ is not only between contemporaries, or similar genres, but it extends beyond hierarchies. The newer set competes with each other to establish a foothold and carve a niche. Their noted peers are also constantly driven to raising the bar, as fresh entrants are increasingly sharp, media savvy and extremely tuned in to the market. The challenge is to consistently maintain a cutting-edge outlook, and deliver on time, every time. The process ensures a no-slack overall attitude, because nobody can afford to be lazy. It’s about the survival of the fittest....the rest will fall into place anyway.

Popoy Barba PFW 2010
The events are no more aspirational, as the entry process has been made easier to fill the slots. ‘Come one, come all’ — a torrent of names receives a few minutes of fame, and subsequently (and swiftly) fades into oblivion. Despite the overall improvement in aesthetics and finish, and a recent noticeable affinity to experimentation, individuality is still predominantly lacking.Some do not even regard fashion weeks as business anymore; it is only seasonal publicity...

What you Stitch is What you Rip at the recent PFW 2010 and METROWEAR

Photo credits: Bruce Casanova/StyleBible

Brian Leyva's Butterfly Sleeves METROWEAR 2010
A sense of comparison prevailed at both Phil. Fashion Week (PFW) and Metrowear; a disappointing scenario when both parties are dedicatedly striving to bring together the best designers to laud and promote the Philippine fashion scene. Showcasing twice, Spring/Summer-Holiday every year, (PFW),and once yearly (Metrowear).. maybe some mistakenly think they are presenting identical silhouettes every season and simply smearing them with a fall colour palette will garner them commercial and critical success.

Gerry Katigbak METROWEAR 2010
While the Philippine Fashion Week is steering in the right direction to make it to an enviable position on the global fashion calendar, Metrowear's focus remains domestic, improving every year with glitches addressed and ironed out, focusing on what’s positive, who the worthy newsmakers are, where the maximum creative prowess can be seen...still talents prevailed and the ego-circus remained on the sidelights.  

Angelo Estera PFW 2010
But this is not an investigative probe... just a synopsis of what has unfurled. What do multiple fashion weeks signify in our country? To understand, analyse and predict the stakes, we need to study the industry facts and views from the perspectives of optimism and scepticism.

METROWEAR Entry
Focus: ‘International’ The Philippine Fashion Week, the trend is “in sync with international practices where there are several simultaneous events during a week”. New York, Milan, Paris and London — making the whole activity much more streamlined.Metrowear still remained local.

Jun-jun Cambe PFW 2010
Is there a possibility of creating one spirit ,one fashion showcase?...on a larger picture scale? This brings concerns about the portrayal of the disharmony, no unity amongst our fraternity. Is “professionalism "ready to go ahead with integrity and consistency...?

METROWEAR ENTRY
Focus: ‘Options’ Multiple fashion showcase, signifies the presence of a larger number of participants, and therefore, more variety for the consumers, publicists and buyers to choose from, each providing their own aesthetics and images. Thiese events are well-run by well-reputed organisations,with more or less wide magnitude, proper marketing, infrastructure and funding.

Frederick Peralta PFW 2010
Focus: ‘Platform’ There would now be more platforms, giving younger designers a chance to showcase their dreams and encouraging more talents. Fashion schools like FIP and SOFA would greatly benifit in these events. More people get opportunity.”

Lyle Ybanez PFW 2010
More categories give more designers with different sensibilities and the chances to show their kind of fashion and style.Exposure, markets, extra opportunity and experimentations are the positive outcomes in these annual events. On one hand there are young, talented designers who are getting the scope to showcase and keep senior designers on their toes. But the flipside is that a lot of undeserving candidates fill the spaces…more through money and celebrity contacts, than real talent.

John Herrera PFW 2010

Focus: ‘Competition’ With more names vying for the limelight, there is pressure to innovate, raise quality standards and also create competitive price points. The industry is at its razor-sharp, cut-throat zenith, with someone always looming— to replace a weak candidate.

  Emily Sy PFW2010
‘Healthy competition’ is not only between contemporaries, or similar genres, but it extends beyond hierarchies. The newer set competes with each other to establish a foothold and carve a niche. Their noted peers are also constantly driven to raising the bar, as fresh entrants are increasingly sharp, media savvy and extremely tuned in to the market. The challenge is to consistently maintain a cutting-edge outlook, and deliver on time, every time. The process ensures a no-slack overall attitude, because nobody can afford to be lazy. It’s about the survival of the fittest....the rest will fall into place anyway.

Popoy Barba PFW 2010
The events are no more aspirational, as the entry process has been made easier to fill the slots. ‘Come one, come all’ — a torrent of names receives a few minutes of fame, and subsequently (and swiftly) fades into oblivion. Despite the overall improvement in aesthetics and finish, and a recent noticeable affinity to experimentation, individuality is still predominantly lacking.Some do not even regard fashion weeks as business anymore; it is only seasonal publicity...

top 10 to Watch at PHILIPPINE FASHION WEEK /HOLIDAY 2010

Lyle Ibanes on the Runway 2010

It's Philippine Fashion Week. Watching the models on the runway by the talented and innovative participating designers, dining and socializing way too late in the evening, getting into the hotel room never earlier than 2 a.m., trying to recollect and describe a week of beautiful clothes, great potentials, making new friends and enjoying the old ones, is a mega celebration of fashion.. style.. and life!

                                              Lyle  Ibanez: Uber Chic collection

                                          Joel Escober's  Fab  Collection


I'm looking forward on seeing clothes that I love at the Philippine Fashion Week Holiday 2010, both on a personal level and a professional one. There are so many talented designers showing here and a promising crop of NextGen and Emerging Designers. They have given PFW a boost and mission and they all deserve the support of the entire fashion community.

                                 Angelo  Estera's Haute Couture 2010


This season’s breakout new collection from Dubai, MICHAEL CINCO's Haute Couture and ANGELO ESTERA's Luxe Wear. Both as international contingent promising fresh take on haute couture shapes and dresses.

                                Michael Cinco's Haute Couture Collection

From the tried and true, consistently good collections were presented by pioneering designers like Gerry Katigbak and Frederick Peralta, whose collections produce a total package featuring across the music, the clothes, the hair and make-up that all worked together perfectly.

                                   Jun-jun Cambe's Couture Collection
Jun -jun Cambe showed strong and yet fluid lines that echoes his versatility from pret-a- porter to couture last season. He created stunning collection with fluid cut and modern  patterns.

                                                 Ronaldo Arnaldo's Collection
Ronaldo Arnaldo continues to impress and will definitely go places, along with Tina Daniac who we can count on each season! surely know their customer and avid style fans well and how to do business too. Pencil Diestra, my petite and artistic designer from Malabon always comes up with trendy and wearable pieces, very refreshing, but needs to push himself and stretch further, Alex Pigao takes us on a lovely Ilocos journey with his native wear fabrics done in contemporary wearable pieces and Popo Go and Joel Escober know how to dress us well.I just love Bang Pineda's edgy and contemporary men's line.

                                Bang Pineda's Men's Line
What did occur to me this season, and became very clear after so many trips to Manila, is something that is essentially ‘global pinoy" soaring high in the essence of talents and craftmanship, elevating to international level.


So how does that affects some kind of Pinoy ‘fashion critic’ from across the Middle Earth placing the Philippine Fashion Week collections in context, in my country, right now and tell it like it is?... I believe we can.....!!!!!


I also look around at the SMX, a contemporary and high end venue filled with the people who love fashion, love clothes, live and breathe the industry.
So let's have a tour-de-force statement for the designer worth watching.... basing this from their past collections which were strong, singular and presented a distinct point-of-view. See you at SMX....
thanks: Larry Leviste..see you!!!!


Joey and Audie Espino for the unconditional support for all Filipino Designers

1. MICHAEL CINCO

1.MICHAEL CINCO

                                                           2.GERRY KATIGBAK

                                                              3.JUNJUN CAMBE

                                                          4.RONALDO ARNALDO

                                                                     5.M BARRETO
                                         photo credit:Cholo de Vega

                                                               6.MARLON RIVERA

                                                                 7.ANGELO ESTERA

                                                            8. SHANON PAMAONG

                                                            9. KERMIT TESORO

                                                                10.LYLE IBANEZ