Oh Christmas Tree

CEBU, Philippines - The old adage that “fashion is frivolous” is as outdated as a whalebone corset. At The Northwing of SM City Cebu, something uplifting to the spirits happened recently, the brainchild of Ms. Marissa Fernan. Cebu’s prominent denizens and philanthropists, the likes of Mdme. Teresin Mendezona, Mary Anne Aboitiz Arculli, Philip Rodriguez, Alex Medalla, Kate Torralba and Romulo Galicano and his artist friends lent their artistic hands to whip up six Christmas Trees decorated to their respective themes for a silent auction. Proceeds went straight to the victims of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng that ravaged most of Luzon recently.

The worthwhile project also saw the unveiling of Cebu fashion czar Philip Rodriguez’ holiday 2009 collection of structural vis-à-vis fluid ensemble. What he showed charmed and impressed the glitterati audience in attendance with the energy and integrity of its 21st century adherence to architectural design principles—all bright emerald hues and graphic shapes re-imagined for today’s A-lister. The event was an A-List Events and Advertising Inc. production and brought to us by SM Supermalls, BDO exclusive issuer of American Express cards, Cathay Pacific and Country Classics.

Coincidentally, this season, Rodriguez accepted an invitation to present in Los Angeles, a platform that, if not exactly rivaling the full klieg-lit fashion exposure of the Paris runway, at least provides a second-tier transitional space to prop him up for the red carpet crowd.

Bravissimo!