The Cultural Center of the Philippines, in partnership with Bench/Suyen Corporation, and Ayala Malls, will be holding a fashion exhibit featuring the terno/balintawak pieces created by the mentors and finalists from the third edition of Ternocon. The exhibit is part of Ayala Malls’ Bravo Filipino program.
Like other variations of terno, balintawak identifies with the butterfly sleeves. Typically used for town fiestas, pilgrimages, or excursions to the countryside, this type of terno is characterized by its alampay and the tapis.
Curated by Ternocon Artistic Director Gino Gonzales, the exhibits will open simultaneously at the activity centers of Greenbelt 5, Glorietta 2, and Glorietta 4, as well as the lobby of Ayala Museum. The pieces will be on display from April 12 to 16.
The exhibit at the Greenbelt 5 features works by Ternocon mentor Dennis Lustico, who worked with a sophisticated color palette executed in beaded piña cloth, point d’esprit, lace, fishnet, taffeta, duchesse satin, and silk organza.
Mentors Inno Sotto and Joey Samson, with Ternocon 2020 winner Hannah Adrias, take the spotlight at the exhibit in Glorietta 2. Two works by Sotto will be on display. One piece pays homage to National Artist Ramon Valera, with his modernist interpretation of the Philippine dress. The other garment is Sotto’s own interpretation of the balintawak.
Samson’s Ang Mga Pag-ibig ni José Rizal drew inspiration from the real, fictional and metaphorical personae in the National Hero’s life. He fused the languages of traditional menswear with womenswear. The pañuelo was wrapped around the shoulders of a man, while the tapis became a natural extension of the barong.
Adrias’ collection, meanwhile, was fueled by a dystopian vision of fractured and distressed materials, with the alampay and tapis transformed into pointed or curvilinear strips that enveloped and revealed the body.
Balintawaks by the Ternocon 3 finalists will be on display at the Glorietta 4 Activity Center.
These include the pieces done by Joe Salazar Award (Chief Mentor’s Medal) winner Amor Albano, Pura Escurdia Award winner Gabbie Sarenas, Pacita Longos Award (gold medal) winner Yssa Inumerable, Glyn Alley Magtibay, Bon Hansen Reyes, Bree Esplanada, Karl Mark Nadales, Al Rey Rosano, Marc Carcillar, Cheetah Rivera, Dee Javier, and Geom Hernandez.
On display at Ayala Museum Lobby, Ternocon3 mentors Chito Vijandre and Ricky Toledo produced three suites (Chulas, Dalagang Bukid, and Señoritas) that celebrated maximalism, multiculturalism, and camp. Beaded catchphrases from Bisaya, Tagalog slang, and English literature and images from Pinoy pop culture, and kitsch were merged with fine, vintage textiles, lacework, and classical imagery.
The meticulous assemblage and construction of the collection was done over a period of two years. The duo’s use of cross-references between historic iconography and popular culture mirrors the Philippine terno’s wide and evolving design vocabulary.
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