A BLENDING of glamour and the rich culture of the Philippines took place when the Student Organizations Coordinating Council (SOCC) staged Pintig Tomasino 2011: Viaje to celebrate Buwan ng Wika at the UST Medicine Auditorium last August 26. The annual fashion show was on its third year.
Enrico Angelo Herrera, SOCC public relations officer, said the theme this year "is linked to the Quadricentennial celebration of UST." He said the designers sought inspiration from "the past, present, and future."
Interspersed with dance numbers and band performances, Viaje featured apparel that combined vernacular and contemporary designs by UST alumni Joyce Makitalo, Lito Perez, Vince Tolentino, Charinson Balalilhe, and Renz Pangilinan. Meanwhile, the models were trained by Thomasian stage directors Jaypee Cledera, Richard Raymond Salabit Uy, and “Star” Ore and prefessional models Kara Gozali and Miko Raval.
The fashion show was divided into three segments. The first was a display of indigenous-inspired jewelry designed by Makitalo. Complementing the indigenous jewelry were handkerchiefs wrapped around the head, uniform cotton pants, and face paint on the models.
The second segment showcased Spanish colonial-inspired fashion designed by Perez. The female models wore monochromatic gowns detailed by Spanish era-inspired prints while the male models wore long-sleeved shirts and sleeveless tops paired with white pants. Some of the creations also bore Spanish texts such as titles and passages from the literary works of national hero Jose Rizal.
The third segment was a fashion collaboration by Tolentino, Balalilhe, and Pangilinan centered on contemporary design. Tolentino’s works focused on bright hues such as red, pink, and purple. Glittering gowns of various lengths exuded an alluring appeal.
Balalilhe’s works focused on calmer colors of white, cream, blue, gray, and black. The collection was more versatile as it included both formal and casual wear, adorned by metal rings and gold necklaces. Pangilinan’s works were generally monochromatic accentuated by sparkle and animal prints. A striking detail was the use of see-through fabrics in the gowns.
