Carla Gem Buyo

Step Inside the World of ‘Filipiniana’ Through the Lens of Costume Director Carla Villanueva

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The feature-length film Filipiñana (2026), directed by Rafael Manuel, transforms the exclusive grounds of a Manila country club into an unsettling allegory for power, labor, and post-colonial class dynamics. Expanding on Rafael&#x27;s 2020 thesis short film with the same name, the film captures a single, stifling day through static, painting-like scenes. But beneath the manicured greens and pastel architecture lies a rigid social hierarchy, one that Costume Director Carla Villanueva communicates entirely through the brilliant costuming. <div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17878133103875.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Still by Xenia Patricia</div>Carla sought to design a world &quot;that reflected this kind of microcosm of society of the Philippines both relatable and yet somewhat surreal/removed from reality.&quot; The goal was to establish a &quot;homogeneous quality to the characters...where they needed to quietly reflect their social standings and roles without overtly saying so.&quot; Creating an otherworldly atmosphere that serves an a subtle allegory for social status that is recognizable but not overt.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17878133434538.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Still by Xenia Patricia</div>For the feature length, alongside Production Designer Tatjana Honegger, they &quot;delved a lot into references from the 50s and 60s, post colonial Philippines and symbolic structures (flowers, petals, sportswear, etc) to say things about the characters without having to be spoken out loud.&quot; The differences in uniform explicitly reflect age, maturity, and labor. Isabel’s look is &quot;a somewhat infantilizing uniform with a bib form, children’s shorts and knee socks, whereas the caddies wear a &quot;long sleeved peplum top (restrictive/covered) and pants&quot; to &quot;immediately portray age, responsibility and maturity without much being said.&quot; <div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17878133661727.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Still by Xenia Patricia</div>Carla reached out to many different sponsors and brands to build the wardrobe of the country club’s elite members. To communicate their status and capitalism, the production relied on premium golf and athletic brands including J.Lindeberg, which sponsored lead actor Renato’s entire look, Lacoste who outfitted Mrs. Palanca, and pulls from multi-brand retailer Golf Depot featuring Ping and Mizuno. <div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17878134041706.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Still by Xenia Patricia</div>For local independent design, the film highlights a major sequences featuring over 40 archival and contemporary looks from Carl Jan Cruz, supplemented by shoes from JOS Mundo, barongs from Viña Romero sourced through department store Rustan’s alongside their Criselda line, and custom staff uniforms produced in collaboration with sustainable label Toqa. <div> </div>The film&#x27;s traditional Filipiniana sequence features vintage 1980s ternos by Patis Tesoro, alongside modern interpretations of traditional attire by designers Vania Romoff, Jor-El Espina, and Dennis Lustico. Rounding out the accessories and footwear are local labels such as Sunnies Studios, luxury eyewear retailer Ronnie and Joe, Marikina-made footwear from Oak, and bespoke embroidered barongs using local Laguna textiles. All these pieces culminate in a cohesive lookbook of costumes “a representation of Filipiniana and the Filipina woman (!!!) in many shapes and forms to be seen in all its beauty, even just for a quick moment.”<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1787813501171Copy of Forest Hills 1.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Still by Xenia Patricia</div>The protagonist, played by Jorybell Agoto, is styled as the most uncomplicated character. &quot;Isabel as the protagonist really was the simplest of all the costumes— she is the most innocent and with little to no fuss about her.&quot; Unlike other tee girls who styled their uniform ribbons as headbands or scarves, Isabel &quot;was stripped of all that and in her most innocent state as something reflective of a young girl being exposed to this world for the first time.&quot; <div> </div>In a film driven by atmosphere rather than heavy exposition, clothing does the heavy lifting. &quot;Filipiñana as a quiet film really benefitted from the use of color, structure and styling to imply labor, wealth, and other markers that are so important to recognise visually in film when nothing else is said.&quot;<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1787813514351Copy of Mount Malarayat Golf and Country Club 12.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Still by Xenia Patricia</div>Filipiñana is one of the most recent, creative Filipino productions that we have seen in contemporary cinema, offering a masterclass in how costume design can speak louder than dialogue. By transforming a golf course into a microcosm of post-colonial society, the film turns every accessory, uniform, and textile choice into a sharp critique of class, labor, and privilege. Through a brilliant interplay between high fashion, corporate athleticwear, and native Filipino craftsmanship, Filipiñana proves that style is not merely an aesthetic backdrop, but the core visual language through which its quiet, complex narrative unfolds.<div> </div>Read more fashion stories on Metro.Style

In an exclusive interview with Carla, we delve into her creative process and the story behind the outfits in 'Filipiniana'.

In an exclusive interview with Carla, we delve into her creative process and the story behind the outfits in 'Filipiniana'.

Step Inside the World of ‘Filipiniana’ Through the Lens of Costume Director Carla Villanueva

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Step Inside the World of ‘Filipiniana’ Through the Lens of Costume Director Carla Villanueva

Ysa Butuhan

Published August 27, 2026 03:00 PM PHT

Read More:

filipiniana

rafael manuel

filipiniana costume director carla villanueva

cinemalaya 2026

costume design

filipino film

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