#MetroStyleWatch: These Celebrities Are Encouraging Filipinos To Make The Terno In Vogue Again!

For most of us, formal attire means embroidered ball gowns, tulle dresses, edgy minimalist pieces, and even androgynous pantsuits. But how about the terno? Does it even enter the mind?

The Cultural Center of the Philippines and local fashion brand Bench is starting a movement: to encourage more Filipinos to patronize the terno. After all, if the Japanese and the Koreans can wear the kimono and the hanbok with pride—then why not promote this attitude among Pinoys, too?

 

 

 

 

 

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Flashback to the 2015 launch of Bench’s Fashionable Filipinas book at the Manila Peninsula. ???? Three years later, we launch the Ternocon at the CCP Main Theater as a continuous commitment to promote the Philippine national dress. ???? With guests @solenn @lovipoe @lizzzuy @sarahlahbati @anakarylle @benchtm ???? #philippineterno #filipiniana #lovelocal #ternocon2018 #fashionablefilipinas #slimsfashionandartsschool #butterflysleeves

A post shared by TERNOCON (@ternocon_2018) on Oct 28, 2018 at 7:40pm PDT

 

To keep a century of culture and local craftmanship alive, the two organizations have joined forces in promoting the terno to the next generation of fashion enthusiasts. They've done it all—from publishing a book on the evolution of Philippine national dresses (written by costume designer Gino Gonzales and Slim's Fashion and Arts School co-director Mark Lewis Higgins), to hosting terno-making competitions, and recently, to concluding a terno-making mentorship program across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.    

For the regional designers who participated in the program under veteran Pinoy designers JC Buendia, Cary Santiago, and Len Cabili, months of learning and hard work finally lead to last night's big culminating event—the TernoCon.

Competing for two categories—the Balintawak Cocktail Terno and the Formal Terno—were 28 finalists from 17 provinces nationwide, whose works were judged according to craftsmanship, creativity, and functionality. 

Aside from the competition, the TernoCon also presented a show of couture terno creations by the program mentors.

 

 

 

 

 

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#CarySantiago's collection for #TernoCon2018 was breathtaking! Check out our favorite looks by swiping through our gallery. (?? @photosbydane)

A post shared by Metro Magazine (@metromagph) on Nov 11, 2018 at 6:44am PST

 

 

 

 

 

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#LenCabili's collection for #TernoCon2018 looks amazing! Check out some of our favorite looks by swiping through our gallery. (?? @photosbydane)

A post shared by Metro Magazine (@metromagph) on Nov 11, 2018 at 6:26am PST

 

 

 

 

 

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Check out some of the looks from #JCBuendia's collection for #TernoCon2018! (?? @photosbydane)

A post shared by Metro Magazine (@metromagph) on Nov 11, 2018 at 6:12am PST

 

Celebrities, designers, and society personalities supported the advocacy, gracing the iconic halls of the Cultural Center of the Philippines in their own statement-making terno. From classic, Maria Clara-inspired dresses to modern, avant garde interpretations, the evening's guests shone in their proudly local ensembles.

The butterfly-sleeved dress is indeed one of the uniquely Filipino costumes we can truly call ours. And with passionate Pinoys fighting to keep it relevant in the fast-paced industry of fashion, we're hopeful to see that it's thriving—and here to stay.

For our list of #MetroStyleWatch best-dressed guests at the TernoCon 2018, scroll ahead!
 
 

Gabbi Garcia in Dinnes Obusan 

 

Solenn Heussaff in Cary Santiago

 

Ariella Arida in Michael Leyva

 

Kai Lim in a Ramon Valera bib and a Joey Samson terno

 

Sharina Gutierrez in Rajo Laurel

 

Armina Aranaz in Rajo Laurel

 

Dra. Aivee Teo in Inno Sotto

 

Metro Magazine's Kat Cruz-Villanueva in Mark Bumgarner

 

Trickie Lopa in Carl Jan Cruz

 

Tessa Prieto Valdes in Dennis Lustico

 

Juliana Gomez in JC Buendia

 

Designer Milka Quin in her own creation

Designer Tracy Dizon in her own creation

 

 

 

 

 

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So among all my photos from last night I guess this is the most genuine of it all. LOL. I am so awkward and bungisngis always. My son was telling to make poses by the steps that I couldn’t do. I was wearing heels kaya! Comes the nervous laughter haha! It’s still good right?? A few days since I’ve arrived from NYC, I had my pieces and accessories off the way to wear for the much anticipated @ternocon_2018 !! Wearing my finale piece from my @fashionweekbrooklyn S/S 2019 Collection! My Signature Doll Dress Filipiniana Terno made from Inalaman Weave Yakan Fabric and Tausug Shawl Panda... Took me three months to wait for this beautiful fabric and definitely a show stopper! Inspired with the Sarimanok, a prominent spirit animal of Mindanao. Earrings by: @adanteleyesa Clutch by: @farah_abu Fascinator (of course) @tiarabytracydizon ????All Proudly Filipino Made! ???? #outfitsoftracydizon #ootd #ternocon #ternocon2018 #filipino #filipiniana #modernfilipiniana ??: @atreyudizon

A post shared by Tracy Dizon ???? (@tracydizon.ph) on Nov 11, 2018 at 4:15pm PST

 

Lovi Poe in Albert Andrada

 

 

 

 

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Dalagang Pilipina. ?? @albertandrada #Ternocon2018

A post shared by Lovi Poe (@lovipoe) on Nov 12, 2018 at 4:08am PST

 

Megan Young in Niv De Leon

 

 

 

 

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#MeganYoung stuns in a terno by #NivdeLeon at tonight's #TERNOCON

A post shared by Metro Magazine (@metromagph) on Nov 11, 2018 at 4:47am PST

 

For more interesting terno creations, swipe through this gallery!

[photos]

Photography by Daniel Soriano