DRESSING UP ASEAN

Charisse and myself at ASEAN DAY exhibit

Trust Manila Collectible Company's Charisse Aquino Tugade to come up with ideas like these. She called me one morning to ask if I could help her with costumes. I said yes, not thinking what it was all about, only to be pleasantly surprised that I wasn't designing anything but putting up costumes for an ASEAN exhibit.

Mrs. Grechen del Rosario and NCCA Chairman Jun de Leon cutting the ceremonial ribbon

 It was two-pronged. The first area was her take on the evolution of the Philippine weaving techniques and the second was the exhibit of ASEAN national costumes. It was a hectic three days of set-up for the team. I worked for two days. 

T'nalak from original to contemporary

The other  fabrics featured were the ikat, the inaul, the pina, and yakan. These fabrics have retained their ancient weaving techniques through the centuries but have adapted to modern times. As for the national costumes it was set up in two days. The costumes were sent by the ASEAN member nations and each embassy made sure hat the costumes represented their countries in the most dignified way possible.

Maria Clara and Barong Tagalog with a salakot with silver finials

Despite the similarities in the costumes the Maria Clara and Barong stood out as somewhat different. This says a lot about our colonial past. the blusa and panuelo were made of Pina while the sobre falda and saya were of a silk and polyester blend. The barong tagalog also done in pina was embroidered in Lumban and had a finely detailed pechera complimented with a salakot that had silver finials. Very elegant... very refined.

traditional wedding costumes from Cambodia

The costumes say a lot about each nation's national identity. Although most of the other ASEAN member nations featured sarongs (long skirts for the women) and sampot (multi-folded trousers for the men) they added a distinct feature from their country of origin. Show-stoppers were the Thai national costumes which showed a very sublime use of beading for the women's sarong complete with accessories and the ornate Cambodian wedding finery with all the heavy gilded  jewelry to adorn both bride and groom.

Thai traditional costumes

The men's outfits were quite sedate and stately. Even Vietnam's cobalt blue version of the Ao Gam (men's silk robe) complete with headgear showed restraint. The colors were electric but also appropriate for the ocassion.

Vietnamese AoDai and AoGam

The event was the 47th ASEAN DAY, in which all the ASEAN ambassadors were present to commemorate the establishment of the ASEAN to promote culture, the arts and economic and political stability in the region. Mrs. Grechen del Rosario (wife of DFA secretary Alberto del Rosario) and NCCA Chairman Jun de Leon were present to cut the ceremonial ribbon to open the exhibit. 

Diplomats at the exhibit

The diplomats were then treated to a short program with no less than Raul Sunico, chairman of the Cultural Center of the Philippines and a lively children's choir, as well as soprano Annie Luis and a young pianist Regina Montesclaros honored the distinguished guests with their outstanding performances. The buffet of ASEAN dishes was created by chef Jessie Sincioco. What a glittering event!

Traditional Balinese headress

Incidentally, the exhibit will run for two weeks at the DFA lobby and then the NCCA will tour the collection around schools in the metro.

Cambodian wedding finery with head piece, armlets, cuffs and anklets