Oka-Valera: Fashion event 20th-year Special (Last of 4 stories)

Remember When? continues its month-long celebration this fourth Sunday of May. This column first came out May 15 — 20 years ago.

The Oka-Valera Collections 1960 was the fashion event of the decade. Imagine two top couturiers from Japan (George Oka) and the Philippines (Ramon Valera) teaming and coming up with their masterworks.

Oka brought along five professional models, while Valera tapped movie stars and socialites. In the ‘60s, there were no professional models in the Philippines and so couturiers relied on elegant ladies coming from prominent families and popular actresses.

Held at The Manila Hotel Fiesta Pavilion, the Oka-Valera fashion show was for the Fourth Cancer Educational Fund Drive.

The three actresses handpicked by Valera were Susan Roces, Barbara Perez and Gloria Romero, the most regal of all movie queens. As expected, Miss Romero — incidentally, Valera’s favorite — was the most applauded.

This columnist still remembers Gloria’s elegant white terno with blue and green accents. When she turned around, it became — as if by magic — a stunning gown. The audience gave it a thunderous applause.

Yes, I was there.

The other Valera models:

Norma Serafica, Imelda Marcos, Mila Magsaysay, Lorna Samson, Imelda Cojuangco, Encarnita Abiera, Dee Marquez, Joji Velarde, Conchitina Sevilla, Bambi Lammoglia, Ines Regala, Tina Zulueta and Marixi Rufino.

A few years back, Valera was posthumously elevated to the pantheon of National Artists, the highest award the country can give its citizens. Modesty aside, this columnist played a major role in that endeavor. I felt that no one but no one was more deserving. When it comes to fashion, Valera’s artistry was — and still is — unequalled. — RKC