BALANGA CITY, Bataan – This province on Tuesday gave recognition to the outstanding achievement of an internationally-renowned Filipino fashion designer based in the United States.
Bataan Tourism Council chair Vicky Garcia and son Balanga City Mayor Jose Enrique Garcia III led Bataan officials in honouring Hollywood fashion designer Oliver Tolentino in fitting ceremonies at the provincial capitol in Balanga City.
Tolentino was guest of honor at the Bataan Day celebration in the opening of the agri-aqua trade fair where various products under “Galing Bataan” are on display and for sale.
Mayor Garcia described Tolentino as among the new breed of heroes after Bataan fell 70 years ago who used talents not guns anymore in giving honor to the country.
“Nakakatuwa dahil ang ultimate dream ko na makabalik sa Bataan ay natupad at sa panahon pa naman ng Bataan Day at Araw ng Kagitingan ako nabigyan ng pagkilala,” Tolentino said.
The fashion designer was born in Balanga but grew up in Orani, Bataan. “Wherever I go, Orani goes with me. I will always be the little Bataeno who will offer my success to the province,” he said.
Just three years ago, Tolentino became the first ever Philippines-based fashion designer to expand to the U.S. when he opened a boutique on Melrose Avenue near Beverly Hills.
He has dressed people for the Oscars, Golden Globes, Grammys, Emmys and American Billboard awards.
He has presented clothes promoting Philippine fabrics in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Palm Springs, San Diego, Hongkong, Switzerland, Bali, the Bahamas and soon in Barbados.
At the Galing Bataan Trade Fair, Tolentino displayed three gowns worn by celebrities like Amber Riley of the TV show Glee, Shamcey Supsup and Gwen Ruais.
He was fresh from his successful San Diego gala and dressing Michelle Trachtenberg of Gossip Girl. He was given standing ovation at the Lexus Centre where he presented 65 pieces of his collections, mostly made of Philippine fabrics.
“Libre ang mangarap pero kailangang pagtuunan ng pansin ang ginagawa at mag-aral ng mabuti para makamit ang mithiin,” said Tolentino who started his career at Slim’s Fashion School in Manila.
