AFTER its spectacular 40th anniversary in 2019, it will be a rather sedate observance this year of the Flores de Mayo. Spearheaded by the Congregacion del Nombre de Jesus, the festival was held in recent years at the SM Mall of Asia, where fashion designers honor the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Flores de Mayo is the highlight of all May festivities, and this year’s edition is just one of the casualties of the dreaded Covid-19 pandemic. There will be no parade or stage presentations. There will also be no competition, where titles, such as Rosa Mystica, La Flor de Manila and Reina de las Flores are much coveted.
Undaunted, Ogee Atos, a Congregacion member and the longtime director of the annual activity, will continue this beloved tradition in a safer way.
“This year’s theme is ‘Velo at Rosaryo: The Seven Joys of Mary,’” Atos says.
The Seven Joys of Our Lady are The Annunciation, The Visitation, The Birth of Our Lord, The Adoration of Jesus by the Magi, The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple, The Resurrection of Our Lord, and The Assumption of Mary in body and in soul into heaven.
“I am entertaining the thought of doing a virtual Flores de Mayo to continue and celebrate this annual tradition of honoring the Virgin Mary, the beloved Mother of our Lord Jesus,” Atos says over Facebook.
A Mass to offer these creations to Jesus and the Virgin Mary will be celebrated at the Sto. Niño de Violago Chapel in Quezon City, slated on May 24. Hopefully, the proceedings will be streamed live.
Atos asked designers from all over the Philippines to participate and submit sketches of their artistic interpretations of the theme. Founding members of the Congregacion, such as Ben Farrales, Nolie Hans, Toni Galang and Steve de Leon lead the lineup composed of Renee Salud. Pepe Quitco, Louis Pangilinan, Chico Estiva, Adam Balasa, Arielle Agasang, Ranel Espaldo, Leslie Rivera, Buddy Reyes, Obet Orajay, Vince Borja, Roy Aquino, Patty Valle, Ramil Estrope, Ronaldo Arnaldo, Jon Fernando, Marlo Javier, Nickky Martinez, Mikee Andrei, Rian Fernnadez, Rowell Panlilio, Russ Cuevas, Danika Damo, Roland Lirio, OlE Morabe, Rey Lazaro, Pencil Dietsra, Vince Sityar, Paolo Blanco, Sonny Boy Mindo, and Jontie Martinez.
Here are some of the entries, which will be made into garments when the pandemic is contained:
PEPE QUITCO
MY Filipiniana terno comes in pale lilac mikado silk with a deep square neckline and clean A-line silhouette. The butterfly sleeves are encased in a mesh (also in lilac) off-shoulder panuelo effect with silver beadworks in floral cabuchon design. There will be more elaborate beadworks on the bodice and hipline. The veil is of pale aqua-blue illusion tulle that is tucked on the lower back hips to form a poof effect that falls into a fully shirred back-to-front hip overskirt sprinkled with beadworks and crystals. The sagala will carry a silver antique rosary.
NICKKY MARTINEZ
IT’S a Maria Clara-inspired gown in blue, white and gold which is considered the colors of Mother Mary. It will be made of Mikado silk in turquoise and gold and white duchess satin with gold lace appliqué with stone beadworks of gold and silver.
JONTIE MARTINEZ
INSPIRED by Gloria Romero’s wedding gown created by the great Ramon Valera, my Flores de Mayo entry adheres to the theme by featuring a cocoon-like veil that gently envelopes the terno, clinches at the knee and continues as a serpentine skirt and train, edged with antique corded lace and accentuated with seed pearls, cut beads and crystals.
I first joined the Congregacion’s Flores de Mayo in the mid-1990s as a designer under Leonard Co’s tutelage, but it wasn’t until 2000 that I joined under my own label. Since then, I probably have been featured as a participant more than 15 times, and I’ve won thrice (La Flor de Manila in 2009, and Reina de las Flores in 2012 and 2017). My sagalas are mostly my beauty-queen “daughters” like Mutya ng Pilipinas 2003 Jamie Liz Castillo, Miss Philippines Earth 2007 Jeanne Harn, Miss Tourism Queen International 2006 Justine Gabionza and Miss World Philippines 2011 2nd Princess Chloe McCulley. I have also dressed up young actresses Ann Curtis and Janna Victoria.
RONALDO ARNALDO
MY creation is an overlapping multilayered modern baro’t saya in black French alencon lace with pewter gray silk base. A matching veil completes the ensemble. I have been joining for more than a decade. I won two Rosa Mysticas and one La Flor de Manila as far as I can recall.
OLÉ MORABE
I’VE won La Flor de Manila in 2001, Rosa Mystica in 2006, and Reina de las Flores in 2014 and 2018.
My creation is a 1960s trapeze silhouette terno in ivory, bubblegum pink and aqua cutting with crystal snowflakes beading in fan design. It will be in poie de soie and duchess satin. A silver lattice net veil completes the ensemble.