A FASHION show at a funeral parlor? Why not?
No idea was too fantastic, too outrageous or too macabre if you were Eddie Baddeo. The designer, known as the “Bad Boy of Philippine Fashion,” succumbed to colorectal cancer in August after a three-year battle. He was 58.
On the last night of his wake, some of his model-muses paid him the ultimate tribute by sashaying down a makeshift runway at a chapel at Arlington Memorial Homes wearing his outlandish creations. It was Baddeo’s last wish. And, like most of his runway spectacles, it was like nothing Manila had ever seen.
The unconventional show was organized by Baddeo’s muse, entrepreneur Marcott Almeda, and directed by his best friend, Raymond Villanueva. The models’ hair and makeup were done by another Baddeo frequent collaborator, Eric Maningat.
The rambunctious “Tequila” served as the opening song, with models Lynn Bentsen, Joy Caralde, Krisha Almeda, Andrea Sulangi, JP Abinuman, Anne Barker, Paulette Quinto and Ava Abejar wearing pink confections. They also wore floor-sweeping gowns in bursts of color to the tune of “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” and Abejar closing the bittersweet display in a bridal gown to Shirley Bassey’s “This Is My Life.”
Baddeo, or Tita Shawie, was a trailblazing icon for the LGBT community who lived his truth before others had the courage to do so. He was comfortable with both the male and female pronouns. As a design maverick, he was also a seismic force in the fashion world who created clothes in whatever fabric or materials he could muster.
“Marcott told me about the idea and asked me who among the other Baddeo Girls would be willing to participate in the fashion show. This was a longtime wish by Tita Shawie. So I told Marcott without a second thought that, of course, and for sure, the other sisters would do it for Tita,” Abejar said. “As this would be the last time that we could show our love and gratitude, I contacted each model and they were glad to do it for Tita Shawie, too!
Lynn Bentsen, a Norway-based model who is set to produce the massive Philippine Fashion Revolution, a showcase in September by more than a hundred designers, readily agreed to do the show. “Tita Eddie was a part of my modeling career. He’s a great mentor to all of us. And to wear his creations at his wake was indeed a tribute to one of the most sought-after designers of his generation. It’s a privilege because not everyone was given such opportunity.”
Baddeo was also well-loved because he loved models immensely. He was known to pamper them with food, attention and gifts. He also paid them above the standard rates.
Eddie Baddeo was cremated on August 20. His black and gold urn is with Edgar Medina, his partner of 32 years.
Image credits: Bernard Testa