Philip D. Torres said his creation called “pidayit” in the vernacular, which means two pieces joined or sewn together at the edge or many pieces patched or sewn to one another, will be worn by 15 professional models and some 50 local models from all ages in a fashion show set at 7 p.m. on April 25 at the Holy Angel University Theater in Angeles City.
Guesting at Friday’s media forum “Inn the News” at the Holiday Inn Resort Clark here organized by the Capampangan In Media, Inc. (CAMI) in cooperation of the Clark Development Corp. (CDC), the Social Security System (SSS) and the hotel, Torres said the funds that will be generated from the charity fashion show will be used for the restoration of the 93-year-old dilapidated museum which was formerly the city hall building.
In 1999, the old city hall building was renovated and turned into the Museo Ning Angeles.
However, 16 years later, “a lot of the walls and windows are broken and its roof is leaking. The whole building needs to be fumigated,” said Joy Cruz, executive director of the Kuliat Foundation which oversees the museum.
She said an estimated P4 million is needed for its immediate renovation and “a wish list” to have an extension at the back of the museum to accommodate more exhibits. It’s a challenge that would cost another P8 million,” said Cruz who is also the museum curator.
She said Torres realized the need for an immediate restoration and offered to hold a charity fashion show together with also renowned musical director and songwriter Andy Alviz who will be directing the fashion show. Alviz’s wards the ArtiSta.Rita will be singing the songs in the fashion show.
Torres explained that pidayit which is mainly cotton, silk, jusi, pina and linen is woven in his shop in Angeles City by about 20 employees. The finished product is bright and flamboyant, said Torres, which reflects the Kapampangan mood. Torres said this is an opportunity “to show to the world of fashion what talent that we have.”
For businesswoman and socialite Maria Luisa Medina, pidayit is “classy, it’s glam, it’s sophisticated.”
Model and wellness expert Archimedes “Arch” De Leon complimented Torres who said he has “a way of looking at beauty in all things. I think this is the metaphor of it.”
Torres said fashion models and writers from New York as well as Philippine fashion ambassador Tina Maristela- Ocampo will be attending the charity fashion show.
Torres said some of those who signified their attendance were National Artist for dance Alice Reyes, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, socialite Ting-ting Cojuangco; international designers Patis Tesoro and Dita Sandico-Ong as well as local designers Manny Ocampo and Nancy Suarez.
