The Modern man

CEBU, Philippines – Looking dapper in the recent Santacruzan 2009 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino were gentlemen from M.A.C.>Models Association of Cebu and a very crisp looking gent, the hotel’s GM, Mr. Marco Protacio. They inched their way in the procession as they escorted the exquisite reinas and zagalas composed of society women (spearheaded by the Reina Emperatriz Ms. Marguerite Lhuillier and Reina Elena Mrs. Tricia Gullas) and top models also from the same print and runway agency who lent more glamour to the already fabulous affair clad in elegant ternos by Cebu’s recognizable designers. And what were the dapper gents wearing? Why a Philip Rodriguez barong of course!

After embracing his inner self (read: Indo Malay Chinese heritage) as evident on his runway shows that tell various stories albeit a consistent one, Philip Rodriguez focused on elegance with ease for his charming menswear collection. There were buttons down with neat Nehru and Mandarin necklined barongs, a barong in gunmetal silver that subtly boast of barely there stripe threads, and the exquisite Piña and Dupione silk blend barong called “poppy” (they looked pretty exquisite). “I was thinking about what I’ve done that I love and surprisingly they turned out reasonably priced and affordable to every gentleman” the designer said of his approach to the season. That means his abstracted embroideries are back, but intriguingly filtered through a sort of Asian fusion that hints at his upcoming travel schedule: He’s going on to Shanghai and Singapore.

Bravissimo!