When Rajo Laurel began to dream of his third gala show, he had three words in mind: young, fresh and new. He decided to tap Ariel Lozada and Michael Salientes to help him make his vision come alive. Why? "I’ve always wanted to work with them. I knew Michael when I started out doing illustrations for Mega and he was like my ‘superior’ then. And Ariel was working with Joey (Espino) when I was at Louie’s (Mamengo). With Michael, and his styling for photos, I just found his work completely, completely unique. And I’ve always loved Ariel’s music and his ‘raw edge’ approach to fashion."
With Michael and Ariel on board, they also brought in Details and Mega and Folio alumnus and fashionista fatale Reret Bonoan. Rajo asked frequent collaborator Patrick Rosas to design the hair and makeup for the show. His sister Venisse took on the mantle of producer and Joey Espino is also a co-producer. It’s been a six-month odyssey that will culminate on the 28th of September.
When I called Rajo for an interview on his show, he desperately wanted an article that would focus on the production team. In my experience, group interviews are not easy. The dynamics can turn into a bad talk show with no rhyme or reason. But when it works out, a group interview can also be a true chorus, a melding of voices that delights and enlightens.
On the night of the interview, the team converged at Rajo’s apartment. It was a convivial gathering, fueled by red wine, empanada and Coca Cola. The feeling of mutual respect and deep, deep affection was palpable in the air.
PHILIPPINE STAR: If you were to describe your group dynamics, what would it be? Was it like the making of a movie or one giant slumber party?
Michael Salientes: Like a high school play.
Reret Bonoan: No, naman. Well, it’s supposed to be corporate. We’re all department heads here, and we all have our duties, but of course, that’s not what happens. (Loud guffaw)
Venisse Laurel: I have to say that I gave total liberty to the artists. Usually, in other shows, the producer limits the artists. But I told Rajo to forget what other people want, forget what your clients want, just do what you want. Because if he’s happy, he will create beautiful clothes.
Reret: And you can really see that–the clothes are amazing!
Michael: Yes, we were given the chance to dream big dreams.
Rajo Laurel: One thing I have to say about this group is that it just moves forward. If something goes wrong, there’s no blaming, let’s just solve it
RERET: The thing is we all had the same vision, one vision, and that was to make this the best damn show that Manila’s ever seen.
What’s everyone’s formal designations?
Venisse: I’m the producer, Reret is PR and Sytems Analyst...
Ariel Lozada: Basta, I’m the model.
Rajo: Michael’s Amanda Harlech! (English aristocrat who was the muse of John Galliano and is now the muse of Karl Lagerfeld at Chanel).
Venisse: Yodel is in charge of the book.
If this group were a family, what would be the assigned roles?
Rajo: I’m the baby.
Venisse: No, let me correct that. He’s the brat.
Rajo: Michael’s the lola.
Michael: Sobrang tanda naman yon!
Ariel: No, si Michael yung kuya na nag-abroad, matagal nawala tapos biglang sumali.
Rajo: Ariel is the super strong kuya. Let’s ask Patrick who he is. (Patrick Rosas was stuck in traffic so at different points of the interview, Rajo would call him and ask the questions.) Ninang daw si Patrick!
Reret: Who am I?
Rajo: Ate, of course!
Michael: Is Venisse the middle child?
Venisse: No, I’m the ate!
(At this point, the phone rings and it is Rajo’s mom, Bebot Teves-Laurel, calling.)
Rajo: And she’s the matriarch. Who comes into the meetings . . .
Reret: She’s so colorful!
Rajo: ...makes her comments and just leaves and we all just go, uhhhmmm.
What makes this team work?
Venisse: I just have to say that everybody here is easy to work with. It’s easy to tell them the truth. And we knew that the first night we all met.
Ariel: Ah, basta, kasi bagets kaming lahat!
Venisse: For example, if Michael is in charge of graphics, and Ariel says, ‘No I don’t like it,’ then we’ll change it, work with it.
Reret: There is no big ego.
Venisse: It’s like this: The model will be in the middle, and the accessories are all there, and then we try it all together, see how it looks.
Ariel: I’m always the fitting model!
Venisse: Another thing about these people was that it was never about the money. It was all for love.
Michael: Yes, it was an opportunity to do something good.
Ariel: No boundaries.
When you were conceptualizing the show, what were the absolute don’ts?
Rajo: Voice-overs.
Reret: Stampede.
Venisse: Anything I will produce, I will make sure that there would be no chaos.
Rajo: Something Reret told me at the very start really stuck with me. She said, ‘Just have fun.’ And I’ve just tried to do that.
Reret: It translates to his work.
Ariel: For me, I want something unpredictable, no formula. Gusto ko malinis, simple.
Michael: But also intriguing.
What were some preconceived notions that were broken as you worked together?
Rajo: Well, I never thought that I could work with someone with the work habits of Michael!
Michael: Rajo’s really anal, so organized with all his lists and all that and it has to be done in order. So if he has one concept, he wants to finish all the clothes (in that group) before moving to the next one. But with me, if I see a few pieces, I know na where it’s going, so I want to see the next one na.
Rajo: Which really made my production crazy!
Michael: He would say, ‘Don’t I have to make nos 1-18?’ And I would say, ‘No make 1-4 and 18-22’ and he would just die.
So it was like ADD (attention deficit disorder) Meets OC (obsessive compulsive)?
Everyone: Yes!
If someone who has never met Rajo goes to see the show, what can that person deduce about Rajo based on the show? What impression of Rajo will the show make?
Ariel: Curiosity. It will make people curious about him.
Reret: Depends on the kind of person. But the spectacle of it, well, that says something.
Michael: Someone who’s really brave. I think that everything that’s going to come out, it’s really groundbreaking.
So will you do it all over again?
Reret: I told him, sa Araneta Coliseum.
Rajo: Sooner than you think.
If you had to sum up the show in five words or less, what would you say?
Reret: One word. I just want it to be OVER.
Venisse: It’s f-f-f-fabulous.
Ariel: I have nothing to say about this show because for me, it’s over. Always about the next.
Reret: I don’t really want to say anything about the show because my standards may not be the same as others.
Rajo: We worked very hard on this show and we just hope that everybody respects our vision.
Patrick: New.
Joey Espino (over the phone): Monumental. Once in a lifetime. Unique. Forward.
Michael: Move forward. Be inspired.