The added bonus was that all the pieces were later exhibited at the National Museum, the better to peruse the artisanal details. What the gowns lacked in flamboyance, however, they made up for with impeccable cuts and draping like DOJ Undersecretary Margarita Gutierrez’s terno by Jay Cerezo. Come yearend, the pop-ups Bench x Katutubo at Bench Tower and the ArteFino fair at Rockwell were the places to shop for all the new takes on Filipiniana. At the former, Bench Fashion Week designers were represented, like Daryl Maat with his controversial Pad Paper embroidered barongs and Jo Ann Bitagcol’s easy pieces incorporating her heritage photographs. At the latter, Jor-El Espina, in collaboration with Patis Tesoro, brings her artisanship to the present generation with novel cuts and silhouettes.

Source: Philippine Star December 30, 2025 23:20 UTC