In 2004 the Best Dressed Women of the Philippines (BDWP) awardees were Maricris Cardenas Zobel (in Christian Dior top and Rajo Laurel skirt), Carol Masibay (in Pepito Albert), Chuchu Madrigal (in Vera Wang), Julie Manning (in Inno Sotto), Rosemarie Arenas (in an unnamed London designer), Gul Tanghe (in Jeannie Goulbourn), Amparito Lhuillier (in Monique Lhuillier, naturally), Criselda Lontok (in Nolie Hans), Therese Coronel Santos (in Joe Salazar), Vicky Zubiri (in Christian Lacroix) and Gina Lopez (in Jennie Goulbourn). The Style Icon awardees were society swans Chito Madrigal Collantes and Imelda Ongsiako Cojuangco.
These accomplished women’s impressive personal style (and awesome wardrobe) set the standard for anyone who aspires to be one of them. In the ensuing years, some exemplary Filipino women have joined their ranks. Cristina Ponce Enrile and Gretchen Oppen Cojuangco were the 2005 Style Icons, with Susan Reyes (in Pepito Albert), Menchu Menchaca Soriano (in Alberta Ferretti) and Nikki Prieto Teodoro (in Saint John Couture) among the best dressed awardees.
Margie Moran Floirendo (in Katrina Goulbourn) was feted in 2006; Mariquita Yeung, Dawn Zulueta Lagdameo and Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia (all in Cary Santiago) in 2007; Frannie Aguinaldo Jacinto (in Ito Curata) in 2008; Agnes Huibonhua (in Paul Cabral) in 2009; Happy Ongpauco-Tiu (in Patrice Ramos Diaz) in 2010; Cris Albert (in Auggie Cordero) in 2011; Tootsy Echauz-Angara (in Dennis Lustico) with Ching Cruz as Style Icon in 2012; Charisse Marie Abalos (in Jojie Aguilar) in 2013; and Pauline Laverne Lim (in Larry Espinosa) in 2014.
The BDWP is a fundraising effort for the Philippine Cancer Society (PCS), with a glittering annual awards ball at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel. “Because of BDWP, we are now able to embark on a new project to provide a PCS Mobile Clinic [donated by Victory Liner] that can go to low-resource communities and screen for breast and cervical cancers, which are the two most common cancers in Filipino women. This endeavor is the first of its kind in the country,” an appreciative Dr. Roberto M. Paterno, PCS chairman of the board, said in the souvenir program.
“This year’s women of substance were chosen out of the same mold: beauty, style and kind hearts,” event chairman Angola Consul Helen Ong says. “These women are leading lives worthy of merit on the personal, professional and civic front.”
The 2015 Style Icons are businesswoman and cancer survivor Grace Ong Gobing in Amir Sali and The Catalog Shopper cofounder Joy Wambangco-Rustia in Randy Ortiz (lemon silk tulle gown embellished with dove-gray floral embroidery cascading from the bodice down the skirt, plus electro-pleated underlay in canary to create a two-tone effect), while the Best Dressed awardees are businesswoman and certified public accountant Eni Alba in Roulette Esmilla; Procter & Gamble Financial Shared Services Division Quality Management Head Natalie Diane Lim-Ang in Amir Sali; Rex Bookstore Director Danda Crimelda I. Buhain-Garcia in Avel Bacudio (emerald green off-shoulder bias Thai silk dress with yellow neoprene Thai chiffon long back with Swarovski beads); businesswoman and MTG Educational Program founder Maika T. Garcia in Frederick Peralta; Reimagine Global Health Fellowship founding fellow Jarelle Palabay Gonzales in Francis Libiran, Bloomwoods Flowershop owner (and pregnant) Mia Cabawatan-Lozada in Jojie Lloren (empire-cut lemon and champagne silk mikado gown with origami sculptural detail at the back) currency trader and licensed stockbroker Anna Moncupa in Mark Bumgarner; fashion accessory designer and advocate of Filipino craftsmanship Ann Ong in John Paras, Saint Luke’s Medical Center’s top obstetrician-gynecologist Dr. Elsie Badillo-Pascua in Eddie Baddeo (Grecian-inspired canary-yellow gown with heavy one-sided metallic copper-gold appliques in Swarovski); businesswoman Anna Sia in Ito Curata (black velvet, mermaid silhouette long gown accentuated with fan-like, over-sized ruffle, which wraps to the back to form a train, with mango gold hand-beaded, scalloped edge corded lace applique completing the ensemble); Vigan Plaza Hotel General Manager and socio-civic leader Patch Savellano-Singson in Andrea Tetangco, and renowned neurologist Dr. Hazel Paragua-Zuellig in Jun Escario (deep V neckline and 1950s silhouette fitted skirt with semi-bias ball skirt at the back, plus crystallized belt for a little shine).
“The Best Dressed Women of the Philippines has always exceeded all the expectations that we have set in the previous years. It has made itself the best and most efficient fundraising activity of PCS,” says honorary Chairman Imelda Ongsiako Cojuangco. “The women chosen by the selection and organizing committee for [our 12th year] are those who exemplify the qualities of a true lady—driven, humble and kind-hearted.”
Here’s hoping that any of these women will eventually make it to Vanity Fair’s International Best-Dressed List.