I was so very happy to hear that this year’s Bb. Pilipinas Fashion Show at the Araneta Coliseum (March 6, 2014) was going to incorporate the National Costume competition. What a great idea from Team Binibini! I was eager to see the girls parade in Filipiniana of all kinds and dying to see the designs. This is not just about the girls, but about the beauty and significance of their costumes.
My major irritation though is that they failed to mention the designers of these beautiful creations! What would it have cost to include their names somehow during the program? Even to flash the designer’s names on screen would have been enough. What an oversight, in my humble opinion!
Nevertheless, I loved almost all the gowns and costumes and appreciated each one. In this series of blog posts, I’ll go through each costume and share my thoughts… those highlighted in RED are the gowns and girls that impressed me!
16. Zahara Mae Soriano
Zahara Mae Soriano‘s light pink gown made me think of debutantes, cotton candy and my dog’s adorable tongue, aahaaha! A very elegant piece that I can imagine wearing to the next SONA of the president. Love the silver fern detail on the front and the warm, fuzzy skirt…
*****
17. Diana Arevalo
While I love this gown for it’s queenly cut, I find the crown a little too big. It would be appropriate though if Diana Arevalo was on stage to crown a successor or marry a king. One more thing – the gown poofed out ever so slightly in the tummy area (very obvious when viewed from her side) but if the designer can tuck it in, the gown would be perfect!
*****
18. Ellore Noelle Punzalan
Two things that made Ellore Noelle Punzalan stand out during the National Costume Competition – her sinuous moves and her sexy flat abs. Whatever drama her outfits lacks, Ellore can easily supply! She moved her limbs like an 8-armed goddess and took smooth loping steps to the front of the stage. Loving this girl and expecting bright shiny things to happen to her!
*****
19. Mae Liezel Ramos
I didn’t think that the Chinese-looking costume on Mae Liezel Ramos was very ‘national’ until it dawned upon me that a big part of our culture and history is tied to the Chinese who migrated to the Philippines and made this country their home. Hats off to the designer for choosing a Fil-Chinese theme; it is right to honor them. With that said, I found the gown a bit confusing with all the details and my eye was not sure where to look. Also, her shoes were too small; I could see her toes sticking out. But still, a good creation overall that would be a gem to wear on Chinese New Year!
*****
20. Kenneth Santiago
Sometimes all you need to stand out in a crowd is creative simplicity. This monochromatic Terno covered in pleats might seem plain if put on a hanger, but on stage and worn by a beauty like Kenneth Santiago, it delivers the right message. Might I just mention that this former varsity badminton player looked so much like one of my favorite beauty queens – Chiqui Brosas – as she did the Pasarela down the stage!
*****
