INDIGENOUS ATTIRE (AHP PARTY 2)

the AHP family by Uan Latayan*

When the Advocates for Heritage Preservation (AHP) family decide to have a party, it is normally done with grace and aplomb! Our second year as an advocacy group was no different since it was held in the Intramuros area at Barbara's restaurant. No one actually said it was going to be a dressed up dinner. It was never announced. However, since all of the members are heritage advocates, those who decided to attend the Christmas Party came dressed to the nines in Filipiniana outfits.

Dennis Castanos, Gema Gonzales, Lito Ligon, myself,  Annie Obeya, Johnson Bernardo, Mafe Dajalos, Alice deVera Vasquez, Aye and Tito Encarnacion. Photo by Annie Grace Nicandro Obeya*

Now let me clarify things, since the proclamation of the Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act of 1997, indigenous communities have been promoting the use of their attire for the right reasons. They disdain the term indigenous costume, which has a negative connotation or perception among those who do not hail from their community. And they are right! Costume denotes pretense... fun! what they wear on a daily basis is an indication of their true identity. Their clothes are literally and figuratively, the very fiber (pun intended) of who they are as Filipinos. What they wear is almost sacred to them.

all smiles... photo by Ofie Palma*

So when the AHP holds a party, we showcase Filipiniana outfits to its truest, most basic form without the frivolity nor the freedom to interpret indigenous attire according to our whims. Yes we do have fun and we make it a point to do so without disparagiing these clothes like some do in festivals and in street dancing competitions.

family portrait by Lito Ligon*

The AHP Christmas Party set another record as far as attendance was concerned. Almost a hundred members were present at the buffet dinner organized by no less than AHP founder Tito Encarnacion, assisted by Fritzie Ramos and Aizah Basuel. To make the party more exciting, some members donated fabulous prizes for the raffle. Among the favored raffle prizes were bags and water bottles (from Bhel Esquierdo Asinas) rare books (Jose Benigno Salvador, Gema Gonzales, Addel de Dios Lapira), commemorative coins (Lito Ligon), gift items (Annie Obeya), valuable paintings (Noel Panaligan, Noel Bueza, Joel Aldor and another lady artist whose name I can not recall).

photo by Fritzie Ramos*

The Titas of AHP did not disappoint! Pheeyah Salones came as a Carnival Queen complete with tiara. Bhel Asinas costume in baro't saya came complete with diken and palayok. Lea Amante Villapando's full T'boli attire was encrusted in beads. Vica Tigno, Maricar Anatalio were in Ifugao dress. Febe Sevilla was in Ifugao dress with a pasiking to boot. Some of the ladies came in patadyong and Maria Claras. Some came in mestiza dress and terno. All the women came dressed to the hilt. Jocelyn Cabreito was in a glittering terno. Gema Gonzales was in a pineapple fiber shawl wrap. Fritzie Ramos was in  Maria Clara with a hand-painted panuelo.

Friends and family. Photo by Mafe Dajalos*

The men were not to be ignored, however. Jigs Medina came in a rajah outfit in turquoise and gold brocade complete with a fez. Dennis Roland S. Castanos was dressed as General Luna in rayadillo. Addel de dios Lapira was in a barong and 18th century gilded salakot and an alampay. Lito Ligon was a gobernadorcillo in a top hat and baston de mando. Ace Burwell sported a sarimanok headdress on his head. Dominic Benedict Santos-Viola Faustino was a regal southern datu. The San Pablo contigent composed of tito Naning Esguerra, Earl Esguerra, Mark Fule, Erico Brion Gapangada, Faviola Torres Hidalgo and Mike Asinas were all dapper in their barong tagalog and black trousers - so elegant! Pio and Elma Luistro were in updated his and hers Filipino attire with top hat for him and parasol for her.

The gentlemen of AHP. Photo by Allan Pardilla Martinez*

The big winners for the evening were Ness Sembrero who won a Noel Bueza painting of koi in a pond. Ace Burwell won two paintings one by Noel Panaligan of a street scene and another was a landscape by a Malolos artist donated by Jose Benigno Salvador. Joel Aldor's donation of  a ceramic plate with a Madonna and child done by National Artist Jose Joya went to the gregarious MC, Jose Benigno Salvador. I actually went home with nothing but I had a great time. Let's wait for next year, I may actually take home a prize...

Gema Gonzales, Ferdi Bolislis, myself, Dennis CAstanos, Jogs Medina, Jose Benigno Salvador, Febe Sevilla. Photo by Allan Pardilla Martinez*

Thank you to those donors who I have not been able to mention, I may have forgotten your names but it doesn't mean your generosity this Christmas season went unnoticed. Meantime,  enjoy what remains of this wonderful time and have a brilliant 2018!!!

Myself, Bhel Esquierdo Asinas, Dominic Viola Faustino. Photo by Febe Sevilla*