ANGELES CITY — The award-winning “solihiya-designed” gowns are now on display at the “Gayak at Piblas” exhibit at Robinsons Angeles here.
Kapampangan couturier Ritche Sabinian displayed four of his creations as part of the activities of the Sinukwan Festival celebration that is ongoing at its main location at Robinsons Starmills Pampanga in the City of San Fernando.
The event was attended by Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” G. Lazatin along with city councilors Arvin ”Pogs” Suller and Marino Bañola, Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC) regional operations manager Jodee Pineda-Arroyo, Foundation for Lingap Kapampangan Inc. vice chairperson Dr. Lourdes Javier, and Greater Clark Visitors Bureau internal affairs president Alegria Cruz.
A “palaspas” dance performance by the Sinukwan Dancers was also staged following a ribbon-cutting ceremony to formally open the exhibit.
According to Arroyo, she wants to bring the Sinukwan Festival to Angeles as it is a celebration of the Kapampangan culture.
“Dito po sa Robinsons Angeles naisip namin na ang Sinukwan Festival ay di lamang po pala sa San Fernando, ito po ay isang karangalan ng buong Pampanga, ng mga Kapampangan “(We thought of bringing the Sinukwan Festival here at Robinsons Angeles, it is not just for San Fernando. This is an honor for the entire Pampanga, for the Kapampangans),” said Arroyo.
“Kaya nagdecide po ang FLKI at RLC na dalhin dito ang Sinukwan Festival celebration and this is the first time na dinala po namin ang Gayak at Piblas (We, the FLKI and RLC, decided to bring the Sinukwan Festival celebration and this is the first time that we are bringing Gayak at Piblas here),” Arroyo added.
Sabinian’s impeccable and well-made ternos were designed with solihiya pattern – a popular weave design that is distinctive for its intricate grids and holes which is used mainly for rattan-made furniture.
From his simple beginnings of working in a rattan furniture company, Sabinian eventually came up with the idea of incorporating the pattern into his terno gowns.
“Inisip ko lang yung pinanggalingan ko, kung saan ako nagtrabaho before. May love talaga ako sa pattern ng solihiya (I just thought of how I started working back then, it reminded me of how i fell in love for the solihiya pattern),” said Sabinian.
Meanwhile, Sabinian is currently finishing another masterpiece for Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental Emma Tiglao’s national costume to be used for her Miss Intercontinental 2019 competition in Egypt on December 21.
According to Sabinian, the costume design is inspired by incorporating well-known symbols from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
The solihiya lace of the gown will also be woven by the inmates of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Angeles District Jail with the help of some information and communication technology students.
