Fashion beyond borders
There was too many of everything that night: too many free-flowing drinks, too many flashing lights, too many beautiful people, too many fashionistas swishing their trains, too many legendary personalities all packed in the Rigodon Ballroom of the Peninsula. But the First Philippine Fashion Ball became the ultimate social mixer, bringing together people from the local fashion industry: veterans and rookies, the famous and the up-and-coming, the spotlight lovers and the low-key players.
Presented by Belvedere vodka, one brand that has always been supportive of fashion and the arts, and Coke Zero, this ball was a chance to honor personalities who have helped bring local fashion to where it is today: a small yet thriving industry of ingenious talent and budding creativity. That night, peers presented awards to each other, the new guard honored their mentors and predecessors, and designers, stylists, photographers, models, makeup artists and editors all came together to have riotous fun, regardless of designer affiliation, agency or magazine loyalties.
The First Philippine Fashion Ball witnessed different designer groups mingling together, photographers chumming it up, magazine editors sharing the same dance floor, industry stalwarts getting the recognition they deserve.
Piolo Pascual, along with Mega editor-in-chief Sari Yap and model-turned-photographer Jo Ann Bitagcol, presented an award for excellence in design to Inno Sotto. Industry faves Mark Nicdao, Sara Black, Ronnie Salvacion, Paolo Pineda, Marlon Pecjo and Jake Verzosa handed an achievement award to their mentor, iconic photographer Jun de Leon. Makeup artists Jing Monis, Krist Bansuelo, Juan Sarte and Steven Doloso presented a glass trophy to peer and close friend Henri Calayag for his achievements in beauty and style. Makeup maven Patrick Rosas was honored by his muses Gretchen Baretto and Mons-Romulo Tantoco, along with Jojie Lloren. A giggling group of ex-supermodels — Gem Padilla, Desiree Verdadero, Lou Bunyi and Patty Betita — gave a modeling award of recognition to Marina Benipayo, who, until now, can make a fierce turn on the catwalk. Show director Jackie Aquino was likewise given an award by Robby Carmona, Tweetie de Leon-Gonzalez and Denden Abesamis.
Presidents of the industry’s most significant groups were called onstage: the Young Designers Guild of the Philippines (YDG) headed by acting president Eric delos Santos and the Fashion Designers Association of the Philippines (FDAP) and Fashion and Design Council of the Philippines (FDAP) led by its present presidents Lito Perez and JC Buendia, respectively. All the presidents of the Professional Models Association of the Philippines (PMAP), led by present head Phoemela Barranda, also had their turn, toothy smiles set for a rare photo-op together.
And even when all the awards were given out, the Belvedere mixes and guilt-free soda drinks still flowed, on open bar until two in the morning. Preview editrix Pauline Juan was getting down on the dance floor with Metro magazine chief Michaelle Torres. Tim Yap took the mic, sending out birthday greetings and general salutations. Rhett Eala partied way past his curfew. Designers and their muses hammed it up for each other’s camera.
Paris Hilton was supposed to swing by. While it was whispered about and possibly anticipated earlier in the evening, no one seemed to care anymore as the night deepened and the music shifted from contemporary club hits to ’80s pop classics — the movers and shakers of the Philippine fashion industry were having way too much fun dancing to Borderline.
