“Balik Saya actually started out as a simple conversation on what to do for women’s month. As I child I remember going around the different ateliers in Malate, Manila with my mom. I would be in awe of the beautiful clothes she was wearing. This prompted my team and I to look for new talents in the schools and district” shared Cristal Bagatsing, 5th District Representative of Manila. After the tedious process of training the 15 designers, the event culminated with a fashion show in the newly opened National Museum of National History in Manila.
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Set in the middle of the museum where the ‘Tree of Life’ is the main attraction, a 5-piece collection by the designer mentor and iconic fashion designer Jojie Lloren made its way down the grand staircase to showcase his own modern take on the Filipinana.
The judging panel consisted of fashion design juggernauts: Rajo Laurel, Criselda Lontok, Jeremy Barns, National Museum Director, Jo-ann Bitagcol, Lucy Torres-Gomez, Lulu Tan Gan, Randy Ortiz, Tobias Guggenheimer, the Dean of SOFA Design Institute, Tweetie de Leon-Gonzalez and the head judge, Inno Sotto.
After the showcase of designs, the awarding started with three special awards. Christian Bulasag from Pamantasan Lungsod ng Maynila received P100,000 scholarship by the Fashion+Arts+Business Creatives. The Fashion Visionary Award from SOFA was awarded to Vianka Lorraine Castro from St. Scholastica’s College and will receive an extensive workshop in SOFA while Rana Vashti Sacramento from St. Scholatica’s College was awarded by Rustan’s with the Iconic award.
Soon enough, the top 5 designers were announced. Alexandra Margaux Gustilo from St. Scholastica’s College for 5 th place, Lou Galang from St. Scholastica’s College as 4 th place, Somera Rana from Colegio de San Juan de Letran as 3 rd place, and Alaine Isabelle Leones from St. Scholastica’s College for 2nd place. The grand prize winner who received P100,000 cash, an apprenticeship in Rustan’s, and an extensive workshop from SoFA Design Institute was Mariah Marella Parayray from St. Scholastica’s College.
After all the applause and congratulations, the lights dimmed down but the energy was still high. Meant to be a yearly competition, we are excited for what’s in store for us with Balik Saya 2019.
