((L-R) Bea Alonzo, Grae Fernandez, Margie Moran, Ben Chan, Lovi Poe, Angeles City Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin and SM Supermall COO Steven Tan at the ribbon cutting ceremony.)
ANGELES CITY — The evolution of our national costume has always been an art on its own. With its simplicity, it brings out our history and culture with pride and elegance.
On August 3, Ternocon Exhibit was launched at the Event Center of SM City Clark here in celebration of Buwan ng Wika at Kultura. It is the second leg of an exhibit showcasing modern ternos made by Philippine designers. The first leg was at the Mall of Asia last June 12-19.
The exhibit launch was attended by 1973 Miss Universe Margie Moran, Bench founder Ben Chan, as well as Bench celebrity endorsers Lovi Poe and Grace Fernandez, and Bea Alonzo for Kashieca.
Also present during the ribbon-cutting ceremony were SM Supermall COO Steven Tan and Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr.
The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) through its Cultural Exchange Department in partnership with Bench (Suyen Corp.) initiated Ternocon which is a terno-making convention and contest for regional designers.
The project aims to encourage the use of the terno as formal dress, to inspire a new generation of Filipino designers to make ternos that are grounded in the history of the Philippine national dress and to motivate regional designers to create works that are at par with the couture techniques of senior fashion designers.
From May 8-10 last year, a mentoring and preparatory workshop was conducted at the CCP. The project’s artistic director Gino Gonzales, together with Ternocon chief mentor Inno Sotto, Luzon mentor JC Buendia, Visayas mentor Cary Santiago and Mindanao mentor Len Cabili shared their respective philosophies and design processes with 30 participants.
Succeeding rounds of design consultations were held at the Bench Tower over several months. Twenty-eight designers were finally chosen and asked to create one cocktail version of a Balintawak and one formal evening Terno each as entries to the competition.
The contest proper was held at the CCP main theater stage on November 11, 2018, which included cultural performances that celebrated the diversity of Philippine culture.
Gold, silver, and bronze medals were awarded for each category (Cocktail Balintawak and Formal Evening Terno).
Marlon Tuazon, a Kapampangan designer here and known for his wellmade and well-designed gowns and dresses, won gold in the two categories.
“I am hoping for every Filipina to love our terno and own at least one,” Tuazon said with a desire to be a staple in every Filipina’s closet.
The exhibit also showcased the terno collections by the Ternocon chief mentors and an outstanding display of artistry in miniature terno couturewearing dolls by Cholo Ayuyao.
“We want to bring in the terno as part of our arts and culture,” Moran said.
“There was a long gap when terno became out of fashion so we want to bring it to the region as a very fashionable item to wear,” she added.
“We plan to continue Ternocon every two years and Bench is trying to come up with a wearable terno for the young generation,’’ Moran said.
The exhibit showed how the terno has changed through the years by bringing back the old fashion that has always been our own.
The Ternocon exhibit is open to the public until August 9. It also serves as a tribute to Marlon Tuazon in celebration of his double win.
