AFTER the Taal Volcano eruption but before the Covid-19 quarantine, there was TernoCon. Like the first edition in 2018, the “terno-making convention and competition for emerging Filipino designers and a showcase of new ternos by professional/senior designers” was a spectacular fashion and cultural showcase.
A brainchild of stage designer and author Gino Gonzales, TernoCon was underwritten by the Cultural Center of the Philippines and Bench/Suyen Corp. It started with preparatory workshops and mentoring in May 2019 and culminated in a finals night on January 26 at the CCP. Music was arranged by National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab and performed by the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, styling by Noel Manapat and direction by Dexter Santos.
TernoCon aims “to encourage the use of the terno as a popular form of formal dress; and to inspire and motivate emerging designers to create ternos that are at par with the construction skills of senior designers. It is also, as CCP Chairman Margie Moran-Floirendo emphasized in her welcome remarks, “to sustain the revitalized interest in the national dress.”
BENCHCARES
BEHIND this undertaking is Bench. It is the retail empire’s deeper foray into high fashion, complementing its support for the annual Red Charity Gala and its own Bench Fashion Week. “The terno brings out the best of the Filipino designer,” said Ben Chan. “Bench is fully committed to preserving Filipino culture.”
Through the Philippine Red Cross, the brand donated P1 million for relief efforts for the victims of the Taal Volcano eruption. Consequently, through its BenchCares program, it is donating alcogel and alcohol to the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine General Hospital to help in the fight against Covid-19.
Its food brands, Paul and Manugame, distributed meals for our frontliners at St. Luke’s BGC, Makati Medical Center, and Bacoor District Hospital. It is also giving financial aid to all its employees in the form of full salaries, without deductions against leave balances for the duration of the lockdown.
THE FINALISTS
“I’ll always be a proud advocate of #LoveLocal. It will always be an honor to help in promoting and paying tribute to our Philippine culture and ensure the preservation of the Philippine Terno—after all, that’s the least we can do for our motherland,” Chan said. “Let’s impart the skills and knowledge involved in crafting the terno to the next generation.”
The 13 TernoCon finalists were: Abdul Gaffar A. Dianalan (Iligan City), Christian Jay P. Martin (Nueva Vizcaya), Rogelio Samson Pugat Jr. (Ilocos Norte), Renz Edward L. Reyes (Cavite), Hanz Herzl Pableo (Cebu City), Christopher L. Zamora (Davao City), Hannah Francesca L. Adrias (Pasay City), Jennifer Jean A. Dee (Manila), Jayson “Jaggy” A. Glarino (General Santos City), Krizia Kaita A. Jimenez (Quezon City), Windell B. Madis (Ilocos Norte), Dinnes Obusan (Camarines Sur), and John Gavin B. Ruffy (Las Pinas City).
Each finalist was required to design and execute a capsule collection of three ternos. And each of the finalists delivered, each piece a construction marvel, all imbued with youthful vigor. But there can only be three winners. The gold medal went to Adrias, a bespoke tailoring scholar at Slim’s Fashion and Arts School; the silver to Glarino, a registered nurse and self-taught designer who previously won at the Bench Design Awards (BDA) 2017; and the bronze medal to Obusan, a former sacristan and descendant of National Artist for Dance Ramon Obusan.
The finalists were assigned to mentors Ivarluski Aseron, Philip Rodriguez and Lesley Mobo, with Inno Sotto as head mentor. “Hannah has sharp technical and tailoring skills so we thought it would be great if she can use those skills to her advantage because that is quite rare nowadays, espcially for a female young designer,” Mobo, a London-based Aklan native said.
THE WINNERS
WITH their triumphs at TernoCon, the three propelled themselves to the frontline of Filipino fashion.
- Hannah Adrias, 24, Pasay City. “The vision and inspiration behind my collection is a strong Filipina. One who is confident enough to wear menswear pieces. First, I already have a color palette in mind. Our initial designs changed throughout the entire production of the pieces. My mentor was Lesley Mobo. He helped me conceptualize the silhouette, make it look more loose fitting, for a much comfortable and laidback look. He helped me hone my aesthetic, and use my tailoring skills. Winning at TernoCon 2020 is a blessing. I never expected it. It showed on my face when I won. I’ve been having a lot of inquiries and opportunities lately and I’m forever grateful for it.”
- Jaggy Glarino, 32, General Santos City. “TernoCon is very different. In the Bench Design Awards, judges criticized our works during pre-judging. In TernoCon, there are assigned mentors. I was assigned to Ivarluski Aseron. It’s always good to challenge your limits as a designer. Competitions, they always keep me on my toes. I don’t intend to rest on my laurels ever. Having said that, I think this win has been very significant in a way that it has allowed me to know more about myself, my way of thinking and my creative process. I think that is very important. It equips you. It somehow makes you ready to be an effective collaborator, an effective designer for your clients.”
- Dinnes Obusan, 37, Camarines Sur. “Ang collection ko po ay galing sa final exam ko sa dressmaking sa Slim’s Fashion and Arts School. Nung 2018 ang Slim’s exhibit ay may theme na ‘Laro’ at ang naging final exam kong terno ang naging inspiration ko ay Chinese garter. Doon galing ’yong naging collection ko dito sa TernoCon. Ang naging mentor ko ay si Lesley Mobo. Magaling siya, very hands-on siya sa amin. Weekly kami naga-update sa development ng mga collection namin. Malaki ang naitulong sa ’kin ng pagkapanalo. Marami nakakilala sa akin at nagbukas ito para sa mga future clients and nakatulong din para madagdagan ang self-confidence ko. Dahil dati takot akong humarap sa client pero ngayon medyo OK na kahit may konti pang pag-aalangan sa kadahilanang di ako masyado marunong mag-English.”
Image credits: CHARLES VILLARUZ