It was old world elegance at the Rigodon Ballrppm of the Peninsula Manila when Bench launched their coffee table collectible Fashionable Filipinas.
Women came in their own versions of the ternos ranging from classic to modern designs. Juana Manahan Yupangco and Lilliana Manahan wore the ternos of their late grandmother Elvira Manahan. Kai Lim looked tres chic in a modern terno by Joey Samson.
The launch of Ben Chan’s latest coffee table book was curated and written by scenographer and lecturer at Ateneo de Manila University Gino Gonzales and visual artist and co-director of Slim’s Fashion & Arts School Mark Lewis Higgins. Fashionable Filipinas illustrates the evolution of the Philippine national dress with over two hundred rare or previously unpublished photographs from Philippine, European and American collections. The book also features glossaries, essays, a timeline, and contemporary photos of period fashion, textiles and jewelry. The book was published in support of fashion education, and is an extension of their #LoveLocal campaign.
Guests were treated to old time Filipino and big band standards by Mel Villena and the AMP Band, Markki Stroem, Richard Poon and the legendary Pilita Corrales who regaled the crowd with her version of the classic Filipino song Waray Waray.
