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Aika Robredo Got Married in a Wedding Gown That Incorporated Her Late Dad's Barongs

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<p>In the world of bridalwear, a dress is often measured by its fabric, silhouette, or scale. But for <strong>Aika Robredo</strong>, her wedding gown was measured by its heart. In a stunning display of understated elegance, designer <strong>Jo Rubio </strong>crafted a masterpiece honoring the precious memories of the man who helped shape the person Aika is today: her late father, former Naga City Mayor and Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government <strong>Jesse Robredo</strong>.</p><p>On <strong>December 29</strong>, Aika married <strong>Jim Guzman</strong> at <strong>Our Lady of Guadalupe, Montecito Chapel</strong> in Calamba, Laguna, wearing a bridal gown that meticulously upcycled the <em>barongs</em> of her father into a timeless Filipiniana.</p><p>Aika&#x27;s mother, Naga City Mayor<strong> Leni Robredo</strong>, shared a photo of the newlyweds, revealing the beautiful story behind her daughter&#x27;s wedding gown: &quot;Aika’s wedding gown was lovingly crafted from her Papa’s old <em>barongs</em>, making sure that he was honored and cherished on such an important milestone.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1767024115512588971766_18550688023009593_3217086047277571160_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">Aika and Jim&#x27;s pre-nup shoot in Naga City, Bicol | Photo by NicePrint Photo</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1767027275965606801113_10235893276724647_1514241725000928152_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">The newlyweds | Photo from Leni Robredo&#x27;s Facebook account</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>&quot;I didn’t have a specific gown style or design in mind when I started planning. Our wedding coordinator, <strong>Ernest Pascual</strong>, asked if I still had Papa’s old barongs and suggested incorporating them into my gown—an idea that immediately felt meaningful. It was also Ernest (along with <strong>Char Tinio</strong>), who suggested Jo Rubio, feeling he would really suit my style and personality,&quot; Aika told <strong>Metro.Style</strong>.</p><p>Although Aika did not have a particular style in mind for her wedding gown, one thing she was certain of was that she wanted &quot;something simple and classic.&quot; Immediately, Jo worked his magic to create a memorable piece that was both beautiful and meaningful. </p><p>This collaboration was a first between the designer and the bride. &quot;I was truly honored to be entrusted with creating her dream wedding dress—one that mirrored not only her vision, but her essence,&quot; Jo shared in an exclusive interview with Metro. &quot;In my designs, she recognized herself: her personality, her restraint, and the timeless bridal silhouette she had always imagined.&quot;</p><p>The concept was born from Aika’s appreciation for Jo&#x27;s previous work, a modern <em>terno</em> created from upcycled <em>piña</em> fabrics. &quot;From there, the narrative unfolded naturally. Aika wanted understated elegance: clean lines, thoughtful construction, and a gown that felt immensely personal rather than ornamental,&quot; Jo revealed.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1767026886469609047589_18551658070044539_547685811705347143_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo from @jillrobredo</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1767024616735aika robredo wedding gown by jo rubio a.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">Aika Robredo&#x27;s wedding gown by Jo Rubio reimagined the <em>barongs</em> of the bride&#x27;s late father, Jesse Robredo. | Photo from Jo Rubio</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>For Jo, the heartfelt idea of incorporating the old <em>barongs </em>into Aika&#x27;s bridal gown &quot;<em></em><em></em>was a beautiful convergence of memory, meaning, and sustainability.&quot;</p><p>Transforming the heirloom pieces was a delicate technical challenge Jo willingly took on. Aika provided two <em>barongs</em>, each featuring entirely different patterns and fabric weights. Jo described the process as &quot;solving a puzzle without knowing the final image.&quot; The goal was to maintain a &quot;deliberately simple&quot; aesthetic so that the varied patterns of the <em>piña</em> could harmonize without feeling cluttered.</p><p>&quot;Every piece of the <em>barong</em> was treated with the utmost care, meticulously repurposed, thoughtfully placed, and entirely hand-sewn,&quot; said Jo. What emerged from his atelier was a &quot;<em>piña</em> tapestry&quot; that served as a quiet yet powerful tribute to the well-loved politician&#x27;s legacy.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1767026911709606544131_18551664655044539_1093414977588847363_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo from @jillrobredo</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1767025020601aika robredo wedding gown by jo rubio b.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">A closer look at the material Jo Rubio worked with to create Aika Robredo&#x27;s wedding gown | Photo from Jo Rubio</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Aika shared that her Papa&#x27;s other old <em>barongs </em>were also repurposed by Jo to serve as a heartwarming touch to her mother&#x27;s gown.<strong></strong> The said <em>barongs </em>also found a new home in the designs of <strong>Bianca Cordero</strong> for the gowns of her sisters, <strong>Tricia</strong> and <strong>Jillian</strong>, who were her maids of honor. <em></em><em></em><em></em><em></em></p><p>Jim matched Aika&#x27;s style mood board, as he wore a <em>barong </em>by <strong>Paul Cabral</strong>. <strong></strong><em></em></p><p>Ultimately, Aika&#x27;s Filipiniana wedding gown stood as a testament to Jo&#x27;s guiding principle: that a dress should be a reflection of the bride, not any trend. By weaving her father’s memory into the very fabric of her wedding gown, Aika made more than a visual statement. As Jo aptly put it, &quot;It became a love letter to her father, a tender tribute to a man remembered for his service, integrity, and quiet strength. This gown was not just worn. It was felt.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><p>Lead photos from <strong>@niceprintphoto @jorubio_</strong></p>

<p>Aika Robredo made more than a visual statement with her wedding gown. In designer Jo Rubio's words, "It became a love letter to her father... This gown was not just worn. It was felt." Beautiful and meaningful!</p>

Aika Robredo made more than a visual statement with her wedding gown. In designer Jo Rubio's words, "It became a love letter to her father... This gown was not just worn. It was felt." Beautiful and meaningful!

Aika Robredo Honored Her Late Father By Incorporating His Barongs Into Her Wedding Gown

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Aika Robredo Honored Her Late Father By Incorporating His Barongs Into Her Wedding Gown

Metro.Style

Published Dec 30, 2025 12:45 AM PHT

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Updated Dec 30, 2025 01:09 AM PHT

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