At this year’s MEGA Ball, the expression of independence comes in the form of art and fashion—a form of movement today
Every year, the 12th day of June commemorates the independence of our country. By nature, independence and freedom coexist. When one is free, an individual relies on his, her, or their own authority and identity. We break free from constraints. We take matters into our own hands, literally and figuratively. Of course, this form of self-expression is something that fashion designers and visual artists embody in their respective crafts as a way of transformation. And as MEGA continues its legacy of bringing more depth to our celebration of Independence Day, we cordially invite you to the matrimony of fashion and visual art at the 2023 MEGA Ball.
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Celebrating art as the fashion
In its 13th year, the MEGA Ball still stands because of the mission at its core—creating space for creatives and celebrating ingenious individuals. But for 2023, we go beyond our DNA of highlighting fashion as art, as seen in the first ball’s terno themes and awarding of Filipino designers in its next installments. This year, we underscore the power of visual art in fashioning freedom and expression.
Joining forces with this year’s co-chair Sheila Romero, MEGA will first and foremost give recognition to the masters who paved the way for art to flourish on the local and international scenes. And as this medium continues to live through societal evolution, we will also highlight the groundbreaking artists who are establishing their legacy today.
MEGA Magazine reaffirms the ball’s purpose for paying homage to heritage while seeking a brighter tomorrow through the eyes of creatives. It stands to continue honoring game changers, disruptors, achievers in the local front, as well as in the global arena. It also advocates for young and emerging Filipino talents in the realms of fashion, art, and other industries as it’s important to give them a platform to showcase their own points of view. In the same light, MEGA is also about honoring the masters or icons that paved the way for others to succeed and thrive.
This year, we answer this call through our list of emerging artists made up of a diverse group of individuals, including young designer Jude Macasinag, visual artist Liliana Manahan, and sculptor Jinggoy Buensuceso. It’s a list punctuated by our Icon Awardee, Ramon Orlina, whose glass creations occupy a rarefied air in the art scene.
Moving the art of fashion
One does not speak of MEGA without fashion in the picture. While we are moving forward and beyond the ball’s purpose, MEGA continues to celebrate Filipino talent in this art form.
Indeed, the June 2023 issue invites readers to join us in constantly redefining fashion and art through the face of Bea Alonzo. Besides her contribution in television and film, Bea’s personal growth also comes in the form of her appreciation for art and its kinds. In her home, she houses an array of pieces from Filipino artists themselves, such as a Ramon Orlina mother and child piece.
As the actress opens up on how her own artistry intersects her personal experiences in life, she dons pieces by Filipino designers Rajo Laurel, Joey Samson, Puey Quiñones, Vania Romoff, Jaggy Glarino, Mich Dulce, and Jude Macasinag. With the esteemed guests gracing the MEGA Ball in their creative formal ensembles, we highlight the impact of fashion as a reflection of cultural evolution and hopeful promise.
Fashioning art as a movement
In her essay Art and Society, Filipino historian and art critic Alice Guillermo sums up the power of art in our lives. “The images and productions of art represent, recreate, or reconstruct their surrounding reality, and thus, they proffer various ways of knowing ourselves and the world. The work of art, since it is not pure decoration, but is a vehicle for conveying ideas, values, and emotions, in fact, a vision of life and reality, goes beyond commodity to art.”
In the presence of artists, art collectors, gallerists, curators, fashion designers, and the society in this year’s Independence Day celebration, MEGA forwards fashion and art as a movement for societal change. At a time when we are still continuously fighting for freedom, this year’s theme highlights art as a form of creative language to interject its power in transforming the world we live in.
“Because art is not neutral and derives its energies from the dynamism and conflicts of society, it is also an agent of change. Art as an agent of social change will always be the challenge for serious artists because they want to affirm the vital role of art in society.”
Alice Guillermo
This Independence Day, the 2023 MEGA Ball will be a testament to our core and promise of uplifting artists in all fields. We invite you to join us not just for one day, but rather daily to use our means for a greater cause and deeper purpose into fashioning tomorrow as a true work of art anchored in peace, justice, and freedom.
