Project Runway Philippines (season 1)
Encyclopedia
The first season of Project Runway Philippines
premiered on July 30, 2008 on cable
through ETC Entertainment Central and on free TV through SBN 21
. The show was hosted by model
and actress Teresa Herrera, with fashion designer and faculty member of School of Fashion and the Arts Jojie Lloren serving as mentor and Marie Jamora
as director. Filipino top model and lifestyle feature writer Apples Aberin-Sahdwani and fashion designer Rajo Laurel complete the judging panel. The winner received P
500,000 (roughly US$
11,000) in cash, a start-up business package, an editorial spread in Mega magazine, and an opportunity to show their collection in Philippine Fashion Week. The final three designers, as revealed in the Finale episode, would get to design a clothing line to be sold exclusively in SM Makati and SM Ortigas
, while the winner would display his collection in SM Makati. The Final Runway show was held on October 23, 2008, at the SMX Convention Center
in Pasay City
, with New York
-based handbag
and accessories designer Rafé Totengco and notable shoe designer Cesar Gaupo as guest judges. Aries Lagat of Iligan City
was declared the winner, beating Philipp Tampus of Lapu-Lapu City
and Veejay Floresca of Makati City
.
. Casting call was also held on March 10, 2008 in Crown Regency Hotel and Towers
in Cebu City
for fashion designers in Visayas
and Mindanao
island groups. Over 200 designers auditioned during the course of the casting calls.
The 14 designers gathered in Manila's Liwasang Bonifacio and were greeted by host Teresa Herrera and their mentor Jojie Lloren. After an introductory round of coconut water
straight out of coconut
s, the designers were tasked to collect as much fabric
s and accessories, which were draped on parked jeepney
s, as possible. They were then told that they are required to use all of the materials they have gathered in creating a dress that shows their personality as a designer. The winner was granted immunity
for the next challenge.
The remaining designers were tasked to create a dress inspired from their assigned legendary Filipino fashion designers. To have an idea on the styles of these "13 Legends," the designers had consultations with students from the School of Fashion and the Arts (SoFA). They were given P2,000 (roughly US$46) for materials from Metro Gaisano Mall in Taguig City
, Metro Manila, and two days to sew their creations. The winner was granted immunity for the next challenge.
Lloren introduced the remaining designers to Carla Sibal (editor in chief
of Mega magazine) and Sarah Meier (model and former VJ of MTV Southeast Asia
). The competitors were tasked to create a design that fuses hip hop
and haute couture sensibilities. Meier chose six design sketches for the runway show, while the designers of which chose their respective team partners. The winning design will be worn by Meier in a fashion editorial for Mega magazine, while the designer was granted immunity for the next challenge.
The remaining designers were brought to TRIbeca Private Residence, a resort
in Muntinlupa City
, for a whole day of rest. What they did not know is that the next challenge would take place there. They were tasked by a representative of Nestlé Philippines
to create a resort wear
that can easily be transformed as a day dress
and an evening wear
using the color palette of Nesvita Cereal Milk Drink (mainly lime green
, with yellow
and pink
). The designers had to gather their materials in cabana
s situated in the resort within the time limit of five minutes. The winning designer was granted immunity for the next challenge, and the winning design was worn by Karla Paula Henry, Miss Earth 2008
.
Gonzales raised the issue of the team of Floresca and Parcon in the previous episode wherein they used a tank top (which the two considered as an accessory) to complete their outfit for that particular episode's challenge. However, the garment was neither made nor purchased. Jojie Lloren talked to both Gonzales and Floresca individually, and said that the judging panel concluded that Maturan's dress (which Gonzales collaborated on before Maturan was eliminated) would still have lost. Consequently, Lloren said that only materials that are either purchased or brought from the accessory wall are allowed to be worn on the models from hereon.
The ten designers were brought to Cubao Expo, a section in Araneta Center
in Quezon City's Cubao district formerly lined with shoe stores and now housed with art galleries and vintage stores. They were given digital camera
s and tasked to take photos within the area for 2½ hours. They then select one image which serves as an inspiration for their next design. The winner received a Canon Ixus digital camera, but was not given immunity for the next challenge.
The remaining designers were introduced to their models who were wearing wedding dresses picked out of thrift stores
. The challenge was to create a bridal dress using at least 50 percent of the inexpensive gowns they have chosen. They were also given P3,000 (roughly US$65) and 20 minutes to shop for additional materials, as well as two days to complete their design. The winner received immunity for the next challenge.
Gonzales ranted about his perceived bias that the judges are grooming Aries Lagat to win the competition, especially when one of the judges (whom he did not specify) is already familiar with Lagat and Veejay Floresca prior to taping.
The eight designers were brought to Beverly Hills 6750
, a high-end aesthetic center
in Makati City, and were given its signature facial treatment worth P14,000 (roughly US$300). It was here where Lloren and a representative of the center gave the designers their task for this episode. The challenge was to create an office uniform that would represent Beverly Hills 6750 as a classy and sophisticated establishment. All of the designers were given equal amounts of material—four yard
s of black fabric and three yards of white cloth—and one day to complete their design. The winner received free services from the sponsor client, but no immunity was granted for this challenge.
The judges decided not to eliminate Ivan Raborar nor Mara Reyes, who were the bottom two designers, because they believed Gonzales created the worst design but he had immunity from his win in the previous episode.
The designers were treated on a buffet
breakfast
on their apartment lobby, wherein Lloren informed them that two designers would be eliminated in this challenge. He then introduced a representative from Pond's
, who gave the designers their next challenge: to create an outfit for young wives for a romantic night out with their husband
s, with red
incorporated into the design. She also introduced a group of young wives who would serve as the designers' clients and models. The winner of this challenge from hereon would not receive immunity.
The remaining six designers were brought to a branch of Cinderella, a department store that recently celebrated its 60th anniversary. Lloren and a representative of the store gave the task to the designers, which was to create a collection of three ready-to-wear outfits that represent a woman of Cinderella. The designers formed two teams, with Gonzales and Cerezo being the leaders. The materials were to be gathered from clothes inside the store, which would then be deconstructed to create new designs. Each team received a budget of P6,000 (roughly US$131) and were given 17 hours to finish the collection. The winning collection would be displayed in a Cinderella display window
for one month, while the models who wore the winning designs would receive gift certificates
from the store.
The designers were brought to Laurel's fashion house, where he introduced them to his mother as well as to the commercial side of fashion. Once they got back to SoFA, they were then introduced to Department of Agriculture
Secretary Arthur Yap who told them about their next challenge. They were tasked to create an avant-garde outfit made from Philippine indigenous fabrics made from pineapple
and abacá
fibers as well as silk
, which are usually made for traditional costumes such as barong Tagalog
and baro't saya
. Each designer chose a bundle of assorted natural fabrics as their materials, with Floresca choosing first being the previous winner. They were given 28 hours to finish their designs.
The four remaining designers were brought on a "Livin' La Vida Imelda" architectural tour with Carlos Celdran, a celebrity tour guide. Before the beginning of the tour, Celdran told the designers about their next challenge: to create a "terno," a variation of the baro't saya with butterfly sleeves popularized by Former First Lady Imelda Marcos
, and who continues to wear the terno . The Project Runway design was to take the dress to the 21st Century. Celdran then reintroduced the designers to the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex, which houses the Cultural Center of the Philippines
, Philippine International Convention Center
, Folk Arts Theater, and Manila Film Center. All of these establishments were built during the 1970s, a decade ruled under Martial law by Former President Ferdinand Marcos
but was also a period of renaissance for Philippine arts and culture headed by its Former First Lady Marcos. The designers were then given P5,000 (roughly US$105) and 30 minutes to shop for materials in Metro Gaisano.
After sketching their designs and shopping for materials, the designers were then brought to the residence of Imelda Marcos, who narrated about the evolution of the terno from a heavy four-piece ensemble inspired during the country's Spanish colonization period
to a simple one-piece dress highlighted with a pair of butterfly sleeves, adapting to the aesthetics of Filipinos during the Post-War period. The designers pitched their sketches to Marcos, who was pleased by their designs.
The designers were given a total of three days to complete their outfit, with Reyes getting an extra hour of work as the winner of the previous episode's challenge.
After Tampus (as winner of the last challenge) chose his model for the Finale, Herrera briefed the remaining three designers that they were going to create a 12-piece collection for Philippine Fashion Week. Lloren visited the designers in their hometowns two weeks before Fashion Week and consulted about their collections. He first visited Floresca in Makati City, who narrated about his mother's past struggles as a widow who single-handedly raised her family. Floresca said that his collection was not based on any inspiration. Lloren then went to neighboring Parañaque City
to visit Lagat, who was not able to work with his collection in his hometown of Iligan City due to the ongoing war between government forces
and Moro Islamic Liberation Front
and instead was staying in a friend's house. Lagat brought Lloren to the house of Ben Farrales, a well-known designer who gave Lagat a scholarship in fashion design. Lagat stated that his collection was based on the animated series Ben 10
. Lloren then went to Lapu-Lapu City to visit Tampus in his family home. Tampus introduced his mentor to his whole family as well as his friends who served as his viewing buddies during the show's broadcast. He stated that his collection was a dedication to his late mother.
The final three designers, with their collections in tow, went back to SoFA two days before Fashion Week. Lloren greeted the designers and gave his inputs about the progress of their creations. They also got to choose their models, wherein Floresca got the ire of Lagat after he chose a model that Lagat intends to pick. Lloren also announced the order of the Final Runway: Tampus presents his collection first, followed by Floresca and Lagat. After a night's rest in their new apartments (with Tampus getting the "best room" in the suite as winner of the previous challenge), the finalists were brought to SM City Marikina
and met Herrera together with Tonichi Nocom, an in-house designer for SM, who introduced them to their final challenge: to create a men's wear as their 13th outfit. Herrera also introduced the designers to a group of male models for them to choose. She then reminded the three about the Reunion Special wherein they were asked whom among the eliminated designers they would want to work with, and it turned out that they would become the assistant designers for the finalists. The finalists were given P3,000 (roughly US$62) to create their additional garment.
The finalists, along with their assistant designers, proceeded to The Fabric Warehouse in Quezon City to purchase materials for their 13th outfit. They then went to SoFA and began creating their garments, which was filled with candid conversations and singing. Their models visited the workroom for fitting. After finishing their men's wear, the finalists continued adding finishing touches to their collections.
A day later, the finalists were brought to SMX Convention Center
for the Final Runway presentation. The chaos of backstage was shown from putting make-up on the models to readjusting the garments to fit the models. Lloren was also backstage for moral support, as well as helping out with removing lint on some of the garments.
Herrera welcomed the audience for the Final Runway and introduced the guest judges. Tampus presented his collection first, which featured crochet
ed garments from resort wear to evening dresses. Floresca's collection was next, which consisted of monochromatic dresses using neutral tones. Lagat was last to present his collection, which was highlighted with a 1950s-inspired dress that was taken apart by two models and then converted into three separate dresses. After the show, the members of the audience and eliminated designers concluded that the competition was a toss-up between Tampus and Lagat.
At the judging, Laurel baptized Tampus as "The Romantic Designer" as the judges praised his youthful use of crochet. Floresca, meanwhile, was christened by Laurel as "The Modernist" as the judges lauded the practicality of his designs considering the conservative fashion market in the Philippines. Lagat was then labeled as "The Technician" by Laurel and was complimented his complicated designs that did not appear busy. During the deliberations, the judges criticized some of Tampus' overworked garments, Floresca's fabric choices, and Lagat's final dress which they claimed as off from the rest of the garments.
The designers were brought back to the studio for the announcement of winner. Floresca was eliminated first, leaving Tampus and Lagat in contention for the title. Herrera then called Lagat as the winner of Project Runway Philippines, who then fell on his knees and shed tears of joy. He kidded Tampus that his reaction was "embarrassing" and his knees were hurt because of it. The judges, along with Lagat's father, congratulated the winner. The show ended with Lagat talking to his mother, who is working overseas, through a cellular phone.
All 14 designers gathered in the studio together with Herrera and Lloren as they discussed their experience on the show as well as how it affected them. It also served as an opportunity to discuss and put a closure on issues between designers. Laurel and Aberin-Sahdwani also appeared on the show, who expressed the difficulty of elimination. The episode was highlighted with an awarding of Fan Favorite.
This special episode looked back on the beginnings of Project Runway Philippines, from its auditions to the announcement of the final three designers. Highlights in this special include their shooting for the show's opening billboard, as well as various rivalries and other never-before-seen footage.
wrote that he liked the show's "stylish approximation of the original American franchise, with Teresa Herrera ranking high among (his) list of the show's plus points." However, he criticized the subjectivity of judges' verdicts, adding that "their personal preferences sometimes clouded their judgment." He also expressed his hopes that the judges and mentors of the show go soft on their "tough love" approach, stating that the designers are "young and vulnerable." Opinion columnist Rina Jimenez-David, also from Philippine Daily Inquirer, wrote that Project Runway Philippines is "many times more interesting (than the American original), with more complex intrigues, better clothes, and more outspoken judges." She described Aberin-Sahdwani and Laurel as "unblinkingly honest," adding that the female judge's "insistence on quality, workmanship and attention to detail" was admirable.
Meanwhile, Mindy Baldemor of Manila Bulletin
stated that Project Runway Philippines did not suffer from poor editing and general lack of personality and attitude that plagued Philippines' Next Top Model
, which was also produced by Solar Entertainment. She added that the show "captured the essence of Project Runway: panic-inducing, competitive, semi-dramatic, but overall still chic." C. Mendez Legaspi of Business Mirror agreed with Baldermor's observations. However, the fashion journalist was not favorable of "the oft-times not-so-judicious choice of guest judges, the put-on cattiness of certain contestants, and the lame attempts at colegiala
accents."
At the Final Runway, Ed Biado of Manila Standard Today
wrote that "Tampus proved that his penchant for romance can be translated into something more than classic drapes," making him "a very strong contender." Meanwhile, he stated that Floresca's strength lies in "his impeccable ability to modernize his inspiration and make it his own," but he was "not too sure if that 'his own' is exciting enough." Biado declared Lagat as the clear winner, with a collection that was "architectural and every sewing technique is visibly used and executed flawlessly."
in Cebu City. Lagat has said he intends to use the prize money to create a men's wear collection, which he intends to showcase in February 2009. Meanwhile, Floresca (who already has a shop of his own) is in the process of completing a 45-piece collection that will be exhibited in Philippine Fashion Week Autumn/ Winter 2009. The three finalists are also toying with the idea of collaborating.
Project Runway Philippines
Project Runway Philippines is a Philippine adaptation of Project Runway. This reality television series, which aims to find "the next big Filipino fashion designer," is produced by Solar Entertainment Corporation and Unitel Productions. It is shown on ETC Entertainment Central...
premiered on July 30, 2008 on cable
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
through ETC Entertainment Central and on free TV through SBN 21
Southern Broadcasting Network
SBN is a Philippine television network owned by Filipino-Chinese tycoon Lucio Co, the owner of Puregold Price Club Inc., a supermarket chain. Its main broadcast facilities at 5/F Summit One Bldg, Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City...
. The show was hosted by model
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
and actress Teresa Herrera, with fashion designer and faculty member of School of Fashion and the Arts Jojie Lloren serving as mentor and Marie Jamora
Marie Jamora
Marietta Concepcion Jacinto Jamora is a Filipino and music video director and commercial director.-Work:Jamora has directed music videos for the bands and musicians Sandwich, Imago, Bamboo, Sponge Cola, Urbandub, Gary Valenciano, Itchyworms, and The Eraserheads.She also directed the first ever...
as director. Filipino top model and lifestyle feature writer Apples Aberin-Sahdwani and fashion designer Rajo Laurel complete the judging panel. The winner received P
Philippine peso
The peso is the currency of the Philippines. It is subdivided into 100 centavos . Before 1967, the language used on the banknotes and coins was English and so "peso" was the name used...
500,000 (roughly US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
11,000) in cash, a start-up business package, an editorial spread in Mega magazine, and an opportunity to show their collection in Philippine Fashion Week. The final three designers, as revealed in the Finale episode, would get to design a clothing line to be sold exclusively in SM Makati and SM Ortigas
SM Megamall
SM Megamall is a huge shopping mall located in the Ortigas business district of Metro Manila, Philippines. It is the 3rd SM Supermall developed and operated by SM Prime Holdings, the largest mall operator in the Philippines owned by Henry Sy Sr. The mall has two buildings interconnected with a bridge...
, while the winner would display his collection in SM Makati. The Final Runway show was held on October 23, 2008, at the SMX Convention Center
Smx convention center
The SMX Convention Center is the largest private venue in the Philippines for trade events, industry conventions, corporate functions, and international exhibitions. Its building is located in Pasay City, right beside the Mall of Asia , and is considered an important part of the Mall of Asia Complex...
in Pasay City
Pasay City
The City of Pasay is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila in the Philippines. It is bordered on the north by the country's capital, Manila, to the northeast by Makati City, to the east by Taguig City, and Parañaque City to the south.Pasay City was one of the original four...
, with New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
-based handbag
Handbag
A handbag, or purse in American English, is a handled medium-to-large bag that is often fashionably designed, typically used by women, to hold personal items such as wallet/coins, keys, cosmetics, a hairbrush, pepper spray, cigarettes, mobile phone etc....
and accessories designer Rafé Totengco and notable shoe designer Cesar Gaupo as guest judges. Aries Lagat of Iligan City
Iligan City
The City of Iligan is a highly urbanized industrial city north of the province of Lanao del Norte, Philippines, and the province's former capital. It is approximately 795 kilometers southeast of Manila...
was declared the winner, beating Philipp Tampus of Lapu-Lapu City
Lapu-Lapu City
The City of Lapu-Lapu is a first class highly urbanized city in the province of Cebu in the Philippines. The city occupies most of Mactan Island, a few kilometer off the main island of Cebu and also covers the Olango Island Group further to the southeast, plus a few other islets. It is part of the...
and Veejay Floresca of Makati City
Makati City
The City of Makati is one of the 17 cities that make up Metro Manila, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. Makati is the financial center of the Philippines and one of the major financial, commercial and economic hubs in Asia...
.
Auditions
Project Runway Philippines held its auditions from January 14 through January 16, 2008 in School of Fashion and the Arts (SoFA) in Makati City, Metro ManilaMetro Manila
Metropolitan Manila , the National Capital Region , or simply Metro Manila, is the metropolitan region encompassing the City of Manila and its surrounding areas in the Philippines...
. Casting call was also held on March 10, 2008 in Crown Regency Hotel and Towers
Crown Regency Hotel and Towers
The Crown Regency Hotel and Towers is a hotel complex in Cebu City, Philippines. The main building, the 38-storey Fuente Tower 1, is one of the tallest hotel buildings in the country at 140 meters...
in Cebu City
Cebu City
The City of Cebu is the capital city of Cebu and is the second largest city in the Philippines, the second most significant metropolitan centre in the Philippines and known as the oldest settlement established by the Spaniards in the country.The city is located on the eastern shore of Cebu and was...
for fashion designers in Visayas
Visayas
The Visayas or Visayan Islands and locally known as Kabisay-an gid, is one of the three principal geographical divisions of the Philippines, along with Mindanao and Luzon. It consists of several islands, primarily surrounding the Visayan Sea, although the Visayas are considered the northeast...
and Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
island groups. Over 200 designers auditioned during the course of the casting calls.
Contestants
The 14 finalists of Project Runway Philippines, which consists of a mix of established and new designers, were introduced in a press conference held in Greenbelt 5 Gallery in Makati City. Note that the ages listed are the designers' ages at the time the show was taped in early 2008.- Aries Lagat - 25 years old from Iligan City, Lanao del NorteLanao del NorteLanao del Norte is a province of the Philippines located in the Northern Mindanao region. Its capital is Tubod. The province borders Lanao del Sur to the southeast, Zamboanga del Sur to the west, Illana Bay to the southwest, Iligan Bay to the north, Iligan City to the northeast, and is separated...
. He won the 2006 Mega Young Designers Competition (Mega YDC), an annual competition for Filipino novice fashion designers sponsored by Mega magazine. He is also a former scholar of top designer Ben Ferrales, and teaches in Fashion Institute of the Philippines. - Winner, November 12, 2008 - Philipp Tampus - 36 years old from Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu. A bridal and evening gown designer based in Saudi ArabiaSaudi ArabiaThe Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
and United Arab EmiratesUnited Arab EmiratesThe United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
with 14 years of experience. Competed in 1994 Mega YDC, where it was revealed in Episode 10 that he competed with Laurel. - Eliminated, November 12, 2008 - Veejay Floresca - 23 years old from Makati City, Metro Manila. He studied fashion design and merchandising in De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde. He competed in the International Competition of Young Fashion Designers (ICYFD) in ParisParisParis is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, and was described by a fashion magazine as "The Next Face of Avant Garde." - Eliminated, November 12, 2008 - Mara Reyes - 21 years old from Pasig CityPasig CityThe City of Pasig is one of the city municipalities of Metro Manila in the Philippines and was the former capital of the province of Rizal prior to the formation of this grouping of cities designated as the National Capital Region...
, Metro ManilaMetro ManilaMetropolitan Manila , the National Capital Region , or simply Metro Manila, is the metropolitan region encompassing the City of Manila and its surrounding areas in the Philippines...
. She graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts Major in Painting from the University of the Philippines Diliman, she works as a costume designerCostume DesignerA costume designer or costume mistress/master is a person whose responsibility is to design costumes for a film or stage production. He or she is considered an important part of the "production team", working alongside the director, scenic and lighting designers as well as the sound designer. The...
. - Eliminated, October 8, 2008 - Jaz Cerezo - 25 years old from Dagupan CityDagupan CityThe City of Dagupan is a 1st class city in the Philippines. It is an independent component city of the province of Pangasinan. According to the latest census, Dagupan City has a population of 149,554 people in 25,921 households. Located on Lingayen Gulf on the island of Luzon, Dagupan is the...
, PangasinanPangasinanPangasinan is a province of the Republic of the Philippines. The provincial capital is Lingayen. Pangasinan is located on the west central and peripheral area of the island of Luzon along the Lingayen Gulf, with the total land area being 5,368.82 square kilometers . According to the latest census,...
. An Advertising graduate of Far Eastern UniversityFar Eastern UniversityFar Eastern University in the University Belt area, West Sampaloc, City of Manila, is a nonsectarian, private university in the Philippines. Created by the merger of Far Eastern College and the Institute of Accounts, Business and Finance, FEU became a university in 1934 under the guidance of...
, she studied in Slim's Fashion and Arts School to pursue a career in fashion. She designs wedding dressWedding dressA wedding dress or wedding gown is the clothing worn by a bride during a wedding ceremony. Color, style and ceremonial importance of the gown can depend on the religion and culture of the wedding participants.- Western culture :...
es and evening gownEvening gownAn evening gown is a long flowing women's dress usually worn to a formal affair. It ranges from tea and ballerina to full-length. Evening gowns are often made of a luxury fabric such as chiffon, velvet, satin, or silk...
s. - Eliminated, October 1, 2008 - Eli Gonzales - 26 years old from San Pedro, LagunaSan Pedro, LagunaThe City of San Pedro is a first class Municipality in the province of Laguna, Philippines. It is named after its patron saint, Saint Peter. San Pedro is Laguna's gateway to Metro Manila since it lies on the boundary with Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila's southernmost city...
. A graduate of Industrial DesignIndustrial designIndustrial design is the use of a combination of applied art and applied science to improve the aesthetics, ergonomics, and usability of a product, but it may also be used to improve the product's marketability and production...
, he was a fashion design professor at De La Salle-College of Saint BenildeDe La Salle-College of Saint BenildeDe La Salle-College of Saint Benilde is a private Catholic college in the Malate district of Manila, Philippines. The main campus is along Taft Avenue, with two campuses along Pablo Ocampo Street and Arellano Avenue...
in ManilaManilaManila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
. - Eliminated, September 24, 2008 - Ava Paguyo - 27 years old from San Carlos City, PangasinanSan Carlos City, PangasinanSan Carlos City is a 2nd class city in the Province of Pangasinan, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 161,884 people in 28,025 households. This figure shows the city is the most populated land area in Pangasinan except for its density.-History:The place now called...
. A textile designTextile designTextile design is the process of creating designs and structures for knitted, woven, non-woven or embellishments of fabrics.Textile designing involves producing patterns for cloth used in clothing, household textiles and decorative textiles such as carpets. The field encompasses the actual pattern...
er who graduated with BiologyBiologyBiology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
and Clothing Technology majors from University of the Philippines Diliman. - Eliminated, September 17, 2008 - Ivan Raborar - 23 years old from Koronadal CityKoronadal CityKoronadal, also known as Marbel is a 1st class city in the Philippines. It is the capital of South Cotabato province and regional center of region 12. According to the 2009 census, it had a population of 184,573....
, South CotabatoSouth CotabatoSouth Cotabato is a province of the Philippines located in the SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao. Its capital is Koronadal City, and it borders Sultan Kudarat to the north and west, Sarangani to the south and east, and Davao del Sur to the east...
. He is a two-time winner of the T'nalak Haute Couture Grand Prize. - Eliminated, September 17, 2008 - Bo Parcon - 37 years old from Iloilo City. Dubbed as "Iloilo's Bad Boy of Fashion," he is one of the winners in a terno design competition sponsored by Metropolitan Museum. - Eliminated, September 3, 2008
- Winnie Chua - 24 years old from Malate District, ManilaMalate, ManilaMalate is an old district of the city of Manila in Metro Manila, the Philippines. The district is located at the southern end of the city of Manila, bordered by Pasay City to the south, by Manila Bay to the west, by the district of Ermita to the north and by the districts of Paco and San Andres to...
. She is a fashion merchandiser and ready-to-wearReady-to-wearReady-to-wear or prêt-à-porter is the term for factory-made clothing, sold in finished condition, in standardized sizes, as distinct from made to measure or bespoke clothing tailored to a particular person's frame. Off-the-peg is sometimes used for items which are not clothing.Ready-to-wear has...
designer. She took up Fashion Design and Merchandising at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde. - Eliminated, August 27, 2008 - Charette Regala - 36 years old from Quezon CityQuezon CityQuezon City is the former capital and the most populous city in the Philippines. Located on the island of Luzon, Quezon City is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila, the National Capital Region. The city was named after Manuel L...
, Metro Manila. A former clothing technology instructor at the University of the PhilippinesUniversity of the PhilippinesThe ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...
Diliman and former product manager and head of sourcing for a sporting apparel brand. - Eliminated, August 20, 2008 - Lord Maturan - 24 years old from Talisay City, CebuTalisay City, CebuTalisay City is a 3rd class city in the province of Cebu, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 179,359 people....
. Winner of 2007 Cebu Young Designers' Council. - Eliminated, August 13, 2008 - Lorymer Villareal - 21 years old from Cebu City. An aeronauticalAeronauticsAeronautics is the science involved with the study, design, and manufacturing of airflight-capable machines, or the techniques of operating aircraft and rocketry within the atmosphere...
student and a self-taught designer. He joined the 2005 Philippine Fashion Competition and became one of the country's representatives in ICYFD in Paris that same year. - Eliminated, August 6, 2008 - Loida Hunter - 51 years old from San Pedro, Laguna. A dressmakerDressmakerA dressmaker is a person who makes custom clothing for women, such as dresses, blouses, and evening gowns. Also called a mantua-maker or a modiste.-Notable dressmakers:*Cristobal Balenciaga*Charles Frederick Worth...
who specializes in corporate uniforms. - Eliminated, July 30, 2008
Individuality as a Designer
Original Airdate: July 30, 2008The 14 designers gathered in Manila's Liwasang Bonifacio and were greeted by host Teresa Herrera and their mentor Jojie Lloren. After an introductory round of coconut water
Coconut water
Coconut water is the clear liquid inside young coconuts . As the fruit matures, the coconut water is gradually replaced by the coconut meat and air. A very young coconut has very little meat; the meat that it has is very tender, almost a gel...
straight out of coconut
Coconut
The coconut palm, Cocos nucifera, is a member of the family Arecaceae . It is the only accepted species in the genus Cocos. The term coconut can refer to the entire coconut palm, the seed, or the fruit, which is not a botanical nut. The spelling cocoanut is an old-fashioned form of the word...
s, the designers were tasked to collect as much fabric
Fabric
A fabric is a textile material, short for "textile fabric".Fabric may also refer to:*Fabric , the spatial and geometric configuration of elements within a rock*Fabric , a nightclub in London, England...
s and accessories, which were draped on parked jeepney
Jeepney
Jeepneys are the most popular means of public transportation in the Philippines. They were originally made from US military jeeps left over from World War II and are known for their flamboyant decoration and crowded seating...
s, as possible. They were then told that they are required to use all of the materials they have gathered in creating a dress that shows their personality as a designer. The winner was granted immunity
Immunity (reality television)
Immunity in reality television is a concept that is widely used in weekly elimination-type reality television shows by which a contestant participating in such a show may not be "kicked off" or eliminated from competition in a particular time period...
for the next challenge.
- Guest Judge: Frederick Peralta, top Filipino fashion designer
- Winner: Aries Lagat
- Eliminated: Loida Hunter
13 Legends
Original Airdate: August 6, 2008The remaining designers were tasked to create a dress inspired from their assigned legendary Filipino fashion designers. To have an idea on the styles of these "13 Legends," the designers had consultations with students from the School of Fashion and the Arts (SoFA). They were given P2,000 (roughly US$46) for materials from Metro Gaisano Mall in Taguig City
Taguig City
Taguig is a city in Metro Manila in the Philippines. From a thriving fishing community along the shores of Laguna de Bay, it is now an important residential, commercial and industrial center...
, Metro Manila, and two days to sew their creations. The winner was granted immunity for the next challenge.
| Designer | Fashion Legend | Style |
|---|---|---|
| Aries | Roy Gonzales | Redesigned Barong Tagalog Barong Tagalog The barong Tagalog is an embroidered formal garment of the Philippines. It is very lightweight and worn untucked , over an undershirt. In Filipino culture it is a common wedding and formal attire, mostly for men but also for women... using haute couture Haute couture Haute couture refers to the creation of exclusive custom-fitted clothing. Haute couture is made to order for a specific customer, and it is usually made from high-quality, expensive fabric and sewn with extreme attention to detail and finished by the most experienced and capable seamstresses,... influences |
| Ava | Ben Farrales | Mixes Muslim and Grecian Greek art Greek art began in the Cycladic and Minoan prehistorical civilization, and gave birth to Western classical art in the ancient period... influences |
| Bo | Joe Salazar | Well-crafted gowns with fine and delicate embellishments |
| Charette | Inno Sotto | Modern pieces with classic elegance and impeccable finish |
| Eli | Christian Espiritu | Counted socialites Imelda Marcos Imelda Marcos Imelda R. Marcos is a Filipino politician and widow of 10th Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos. Upon the ascension of her husband to political power, she held various positions to the government until 1986... and TingTing Cojuangco as his muses |
| Ivan | Cesar Gaupo | Ready-to-wear creations with clean lines and silhouettes |
| Jaz | Patis Tesoro | Modernized Filipino dresses |
| Lord | Ramon Valera | Modernized terno silhouette |
| Lorymer | Ernest Santiago | Adventurous designs with exaggerated shoulders and capes |
| Mara | Steve de Leon | Avant-garde Avant-garde Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics.... origami Origami is the traditional Japanese art of paper folding, which started in the 17th century AD at the latest and was popularized outside Japan in the mid-1900s. It has since then evolved into a modern art form... designs using local fabrics |
| Philipp | Auggie Cordero | Audrey Hepburn Audrey Hepburn Audrey Hepburn was a British actress and humanitarian. Although modest about her acting ability, Hepburn remains one of the world's most famous actresses of all time, remembered as a film and fashion icon of the twentieth century... -inspired classic and romantic pieces |
| Veejay | Pitoy Moreno | High-fashion Filipiniana gowns made with local materials |
| Winnie | Josie Natori Josie Natori Josie Natori is a Filipina fashion designer and the CEO and founder of The Natori Company. Natori served as a commissioner on the White House Conference on Small Business. In March 2007 she was awarded the Order of Lakandula, one of the highest civilian awards in the Philippines... |
High-fashion pieces with a mixture of Filipino and Japanese influences |
- Guest Judge: Amina Aranaz-Alunan, handbagHandbagA handbag, or purse in American English, is a handled medium-to-large bag that is often fashionably designed, typically used by women, to hold personal items such as wallet/coins, keys, cosmetics, a hairbrush, pepper spray, cigarettes, mobile phone etc....
designer and co-founder of SoFA - Winner: Philipp Tampus
- Eliminated: Lorymer Villareal
Hip Hop Meets Couture
Original Airdate: August 13, 2008Lloren introduced the remaining designers to Carla Sibal (editor in chief
Editor in chief
An editor-in-chief is a publication's primary editor, having final responsibility for the operations and policies. Additionally, the editor-in-chief is held accountable for delegating tasks to staff members as well as keeping up with the time it takes them to complete their task...
of Mega magazine) and Sarah Meier (model and former VJ of MTV Southeast Asia
MTV Southeast Asia
MTV Southeast Asia is a 24-hour music/entertainment television network, owned by MTV Networks Asia Pacific, a division of Viacom. The channel is shown in the Southeast Asia region including Singapore , Malaysia , Hong Kong , Indonesia , Thailand , Vietnam , Philippines MTV Southeast Asia is a...
). The competitors were tasked to create a design that fuses hip hop
Hip hop fashion
Hip hop fashion is a distinctive style of dress originating with African American youth on the scene of New York City, Los Angeles, Orlando, Chicago, Philadelphia, the San Francisco Bay Area, Detroit, Memphis, Atlanta, St. Louis, Jersey City, Miami, Toronto and Vancouver among others. Each city...
and haute couture sensibilities. Meier chose six design sketches for the runway show, while the designers of which chose their respective team partners. The winning design will be worn by Meier in a fashion editorial for Mega magazine, while the designer was granted immunity for the next challenge.
| Team leader | Partner |
|---|---|
| Aries | Winnie |
| Ava | Philipp |
| Charette | Ivan |
| Lord | Eli |
| Mara | Jaz |
| Veejay | Bo |
- Guest Judges: Carla Sibal and Sarah Meier
- Winner: Ava Paguyo
- Eliminated: Lord Maturan
Nesvita Design Challenge
Original Airdate: August 20, 2008The remaining designers were brought to TRIbeca Private Residence, a resort
Resort
A resort is a place used for relaxation or recreation, attracting visitors for holidays or vacations. Resorts are places, towns or sometimes commercial establishment operated by a single company....
in Muntinlupa City
Muntinlupa City
The City of Muntinlupa is the southernmost city in Philippine National Capital Region. It is bordered on the north by Taguig City; to the northwest by Parañaque City; by Las Piñas City to the west; to the southwest by the city of Bacoor, Cavite; by the city of San Pedro, Laguna; and by Laguna de...
, for a whole day of rest. What they did not know is that the next challenge would take place there. They were tasked by a representative of Nestlé Philippines
Nestlé
Nestlé S.A. is the world's largest food and nutrition company. Founded and headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland, Nestlé originated in a 1905 merger of the Anglo-Swiss Milk Company, established in 1867 by brothers George Page and Charles Page, and Farine Lactée Henri Nestlé, founded in 1866 by Henri...
to create a resort wear
Resort wear
Resort wear is a specialized clothing style, as well as a year-round fashion "season". Sometimes known as "cruise wear", it was originally marketed by upscale stores and collections only to very affluent customers who were expected to spend the post-Christmas/New Year's weeks in warm-weather...
that can easily be transformed as a day dress
Dress
A dress is a garment consisting of a skirt with an attached bodice or with a matching bodice giving the effect of a one-piece garment.Dress may also refer to:*Clothing in general*Costume, fancy dress...
and an evening wear
Formal wear
Formal wear and formal dress are the general terms for clothing suitable for formal social events, such as a wedding, formal garden party or dinner, débutante cotillion, dance, or race...
using the color palette of Nesvita Cereal Milk Drink (mainly lime green
Lime (color)
Lime, also traditionally known as lime green or lime-green, is a color three-quarters of the way between yellow and green , so named because it is a representation of the color of the citrus fruit called limes...
, with yellow
Yellow
Yellow is the color evoked by light that stimulates both the L and M cone cells of the retina about equally, with no significant stimulation of the S cone cells. Light with a wavelength of 570–590 nm is yellow, as is light with a suitable mixture of red and green...
and pink
Pink
Pink is a mixture of red and white. Commonly used for Valentine's Day and Easter, pink is sometimes referred to as "the color of love." The use of the word for the color known today as pink was first recorded in the late 17th century....
). The designers had to gather their materials in cabana
Cabana (structure)
A cabana or cabaña is a structure of either of these types: an 'indigenous hut' or a 'recreational structure'.-Indigenous hut:A small hut built with a thatched roof, most commonly built in tropical climates near natural bodies of water....
s situated in the resort within the time limit of five minutes. The winning designer was granted immunity for the next challenge, and the winning design was worn by Karla Paula Henry, Miss Earth 2008
Miss Earth 2008
Miss Earth 2008, the 8th edition of Miss Earth beauty pageant, was held on November 9, 2008 at the Clark Expo Amphitheater in Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines. Eighty-five delegates arrived from October 19, 2008 in the Philippines...
.
- Guest Judge: Trina Abola, Nesvita group product manager, Nestlé Philippines
- Winner: Aries Lagat
- Eliminated: Charette Regala
Gonzales raised the issue of the team of Floresca and Parcon in the previous episode wherein they used a tank top (which the two considered as an accessory) to complete their outfit for that particular episode's challenge. However, the garment was neither made nor purchased. Jojie Lloren talked to both Gonzales and Floresca individually, and said that the judging panel concluded that Maturan's dress (which Gonzales collaborated on before Maturan was eliminated) would still have lost. Consequently, Lloren said that only materials that are either purchased or brought from the accessory wall are allowed to be worn on the models from hereon.
Open Your Eyes
Original Airdate: August 27, 2008The ten designers were brought to Cubao Expo, a section in Araneta Center
Araneta Center
The Araneta Center is a 35-hectare commercial area in Quezon City, Philippines. Araneta Center Inc. , controlled by the Araneta family, is the owner, developer and manager of Araneta Center, which brings in an estimated 1 million visitors daily...
in Quezon City's Cubao district formerly lined with shoe stores and now housed with art galleries and vintage stores. They were given digital camera
Digital camera
A digital camera is a camera that takes video or still photographs, or both, digitally by recording images via an electronic image sensor. It is the main device used in the field of digital photography...
s and tasked to take photos within the area for 2½ hours. They then select one image which serves as an inspiration for their next design. The winner received a Canon Ixus digital camera, but was not given immunity for the next challenge.
- Guest Judge: Jun de Leon, high fashion photographer; and Mich DulceMich DulceMich Dulce is a Filipina fashion designer, milliner, corsetiere, actress and vocalist of bands Death By Tampon and Us-2 Evil-0.She graduated from the Poveda Learning Center in Quezon City Mich Dulce (born Michelle Dianne Lopez Dulce on May 8, 1981) is a Filipina fashion designer, milliner,...
, celebrity fashion designer and milliner - Winner: Jaz Cerezo
- Eliminated: Winnie Chua
Wedding Challenge
Original Airdate: September 3, 2008The remaining designers were introduced to their models who were wearing wedding dresses picked out of thrift stores
Charity shop
A charity shop, thrift shop, thrift store, hospice shop , resale shop or op shop is a retail establishment run by a charitable organization to raise money.Charity shops are a type of social enterprise...
. The challenge was to create a bridal dress using at least 50 percent of the inexpensive gowns they have chosen. They were also given P3,000 (roughly US$65) and 20 minutes to shop for additional materials, as well as two days to complete their design. The winner received immunity for the next challenge.
- Guest Judge: Dennis Lustico, winner of Best in Bridal Design, Mega Fashion Awards 2007
- Winner: Eli Gonzales
- Eliminated: Bo Parcon
Gonzales ranted about his perceived bias that the judges are grooming Aries Lagat to win the competition, especially when one of the judges (whom he did not specify) is already familiar with Lagat and Veejay Floresca prior to taping.
Beverly Hills 6750 Design Challenge
Original Airdate: September 10, 2008The eight designers were brought to Beverly Hills 6750
Beverly Hills 6750
Beverly Hills 6750, is a luxury aesthetic center in Makati City, Philippines.Launched in 2006 as Beverly Hills 6750 Cosmetic Surgery & Skin Institute, it was first endorsed by 1993 Miss Universe Dayanara Torres of Puerto Rico...
, a high-end aesthetic center
Dermatology
Dermatology is the branch of medicine dealing with the skin and its diseases, a unique specialty with both medical and surgical aspects. A dermatologist takes care of diseases, in the widest sense, and some cosmetic problems of the skin, scalp, hair, and nails....
in Makati City, and were given its signature facial treatment worth P14,000 (roughly US$300). It was here where Lloren and a representative of the center gave the designers their task for this episode. The challenge was to create an office uniform that would represent Beverly Hills 6750 as a classy and sophisticated establishment. All of the designers were given equal amounts of material—four yard
Yard
A yard is a unit of length in several different systems including English units, Imperial units and United States customary units. It is equal to 3 feet or 36 inches...
s of black fabric and three yards of white cloth—and one day to complete their design. The winner received free services from the sponsor client, but no immunity was granted for this challenge.
- Guest Judge: Suzette Lopez, general manager, Beverly Hills 6750
- Winner: Aries Lagat
- Eliminated: None
The judges decided not to eliminate Ivan Raborar nor Mara Reyes, who were the bottom two designers, because they believed Gonzales created the worst design but he had immunity from his win in the previous episode.
Pond's Design Challenge
Original Airdate: September 17, 2008The designers were treated on a buffet
Buffet
A buffet is a system of serving meals in which food is placed in a public area where the diners generally serve themselves. Buffets are offered at various places including hotels and many social events...
breakfast
Breakfast
Breakfast is the first meal taken after rising from a night's sleep, most often eaten in the early morning before undertaking the day's work...
on their apartment lobby, wherein Lloren informed them that two designers would be eliminated in this challenge. He then introduced a representative from Pond's
Pond's Creams
Pond's Cream is a brand of beauty and health care products that is produced by the Ponds Institute which is owned by the multinational company Unilever.-History:...
, who gave the designers their next challenge: to create an outfit for young wives for a romantic night out with their husband
Husband
A husband is a male participant in a marriage. The rights and obligations of the husband regarding his spouse and others, and his status in the community and in law, vary between cultures and has varied over time...
s, with red
Red
Red is any of a number of similar colors evoked by light consisting predominantly of the longest wavelengths of light discernible by the human eye, in the wavelength range of roughly 630–740 nm. Longer wavelengths than this are called infrared , and cannot be seen by the naked eye...
incorporated into the design. She also introduced a group of young wives who would serve as the designers' clients and models. The winner of this challenge from hereon would not receive immunity.
- Guest Judge: Mutya Laxa, marketing manager, Pond's
- Winner: Eli Gonzales
- Eliminated: Ava Paguyo and Ivan Raborar
Cinderella Ready-To-Wear Challenge
Original Airdate: September 24, 2008The remaining six designers were brought to a branch of Cinderella, a department store that recently celebrated its 60th anniversary. Lloren and a representative of the store gave the task to the designers, which was to create a collection of three ready-to-wear outfits that represent a woman of Cinderella. The designers formed two teams, with Gonzales and Cerezo being the leaders. The materials were to be gathered from clothes inside the store, which would then be deconstructed to create new designs. Each team received a budget of P6,000 (roughly US$131) and were given 17 hours to finish the collection. The winning collection would be displayed in a Cinderella display window
Display window
A display window is a window in a shop displaying items for sale or otherwise designed to attract customers to the store. Usually, the term refers to larger windows in the front façade of the shop...
for one month, while the models who wore the winning designs would receive gift certificates
Scrip
Scrip is an American term for any substitute for currency which is not legal tender and is often a form of credit. Scrips were created as company payment of employees and also as a means of payment in times where regular money is unavailable, such as remote coal towns, military bases, ships on long...
from the store.
| Eli | Jaz |
|---|---|
| Mara | Aries |
| Philipp | Veejay |
- Guest Judge: Dennis Castillo, creative consultant, Cinderella
- Winner: Veejay Floresca
- Eliminated: Eli Gonzales
Push Tradition Forward
Original Airdate: October 1, 2008The designers were brought to Laurel's fashion house, where he introduced them to his mother as well as to the commercial side of fashion. Once they got back to SoFA, they were then introduced to Department of Agriculture
Department of Agriculture (Philippines)
The Philippines' Department of Agriculture , abbreviated as DA, is the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for boosting the income of farmers as well as reducing the incidence of poverty in the rural sector, as stipulated inthe Government's Medium Term Philippine...
Secretary Arthur Yap who told them about their next challenge. They were tasked to create an avant-garde outfit made from Philippine indigenous fabrics made from pineapple
Pineapple
Pineapple is the common name for a tropical plant and its edible fruit, which is actually a multiple fruit consisting of coalesced berries. It was given the name pineapple due to its resemblance to a pine cone. The pineapple is by far the most economically important plant in the Bromeliaceae...
and abacá
Abacá
Abacá, Musa textilis is a species of banana native to the Philippines, grown as a commercial crop in the Philippines, Ecuador, and Costa Rica. The plant is of great economic importance, being harvested for its fibre, once generally called Manila hemp, extracted from the trunk or pseudostem. On...
fibers as well as silk
Silk
Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity...
, which are usually made for traditional costumes such as barong Tagalog
Barong Tagalog
The barong Tagalog is an embroidered formal garment of the Philippines. It is very lightweight and worn untucked , over an undershirt. In Filipino culture it is a common wedding and formal attire, mostly for men but also for women...
and baro't saya
Baro't saya
Baro't saya is the unofficial national dress of the Philippines and is worn by women. The name is a contraction of the Tagalog words baro at saya, meaning "dress and skirt".-History:...
. Each designer chose a bundle of assorted natural fabrics as their materials, with Floresca choosing first being the previous winner. They were given 28 hours to finish their designs.
- Guest Judge: Michael Salientes, top stylist
- Winner: Mara Reyes
- Eliminated: Jaz Cerezo
Terno Challenge
Original Airdate: October 8, 2008The four remaining designers were brought on a "Livin' La Vida Imelda" architectural tour with Carlos Celdran, a celebrity tour guide. Before the beginning of the tour, Celdran told the designers about their next challenge: to create a "terno," a variation of the baro't saya with butterfly sleeves popularized by Former First Lady Imelda Marcos
Imelda Marcos
Imelda R. Marcos is a Filipino politician and widow of 10th Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos. Upon the ascension of her husband to political power, she held various positions to the government until 1986...
, and who continues to wear the terno . The Project Runway design was to take the dress to the 21st Century. Celdran then reintroduced the designers to the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex, which houses the Cultural Center of the Philippines
Cultural Center of the Philippines
The Cultural Center of the Philippines is a government-owned and controlled corporation established to preserve, develop and promote arts and culture in the Philippines. The CCP was established through Executive Order No. 30 s. 1966 by President Ferdinand Marcos...
, Philippine International Convention Center
Philippine International Convention Center
The Philippine International Convention Center is a convention center located in the Cultural Center of the Philippines complex in Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines...
, Folk Arts Theater, and Manila Film Center. All of these establishments were built during the 1970s, a decade ruled under Martial law by Former President Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr. was a Filipino leader and an authoritarian President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He was a lawyer, member of the Philippine House of Representatives and a member of the Philippine Senate...
but was also a period of renaissance for Philippine arts and culture headed by its Former First Lady Marcos. The designers were then given P5,000 (roughly US$105) and 30 minutes to shop for materials in Metro Gaisano.
After sketching their designs and shopping for materials, the designers were then brought to the residence of Imelda Marcos, who narrated about the evolution of the terno from a heavy four-piece ensemble inspired during the country's Spanish colonization period
History of the Philippines (1521–1898)
This article covers the history of the Philippines from the arrival of European explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1521, up to the end of Spanish rule in 1898.-Spanish expeditions and conquest:...
to a simple one-piece dress highlighted with a pair of butterfly sleeves, adapting to the aesthetics of Filipinos during the Post-War period. The designers pitched their sketches to Marcos, who was pleased by their designs.
The designers were given a total of three days to complete their outfit, with Reyes getting an extra hour of work as the winner of the previous episode's challenge.
- Guest Judge: Aimee Marcos, entrepreneur, musician, and adopted daughter of Imelda Marcos
- Winner: Philipp Tampus
- Eliminated: Mara Reyes
Finale (part 1)
Original Airdate: November 5, 2008After Tampus (as winner of the last challenge) chose his model for the Finale, Herrera briefed the remaining three designers that they were going to create a 12-piece collection for Philippine Fashion Week. Lloren visited the designers in their hometowns two weeks before Fashion Week and consulted about their collections. He first visited Floresca in Makati City, who narrated about his mother's past struggles as a widow who single-handedly raised her family. Floresca said that his collection was not based on any inspiration. Lloren then went to neighboring Parañaque City
Parañaque City
The City of Parañaque , or simply Parañaque , is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila in the Philippines....
to visit Lagat, who was not able to work with his collection in his hometown of Iligan City due to the ongoing war between government forces
Armed Forces of the Philippines
The Armed Forces of the Philippines is composed of the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force...
and Moro Islamic Liberation Front
Moro Islamic Liberation Front
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front is an Islamist group located in the southern Philippines. It is one of two Islamic militant groups, the other being the Abu Sayyaf, that are fighting against Government of the Philippines...
and instead was staying in a friend's house. Lagat brought Lloren to the house of Ben Farrales, a well-known designer who gave Lagat a scholarship in fashion design. Lagat stated that his collection was based on the animated series Ben 10
Ben 10
The Omnitrix was originally created by a Galvan named Azmuth. The Omnitrix was intended to allow beings to experience life as other species in order to bring understanding and foster peace in the universe....
. Lloren then went to Lapu-Lapu City to visit Tampus in his family home. Tampus introduced his mentor to his whole family as well as his friends who served as his viewing buddies during the show's broadcast. He stated that his collection was a dedication to his late mother.
The final three designers, with their collections in tow, went back to SoFA two days before Fashion Week. Lloren greeted the designers and gave his inputs about the progress of their creations. They also got to choose their models, wherein Floresca got the ire of Lagat after he chose a model that Lagat intends to pick. Lloren also announced the order of the Final Runway: Tampus presents his collection first, followed by Floresca and Lagat. After a night's rest in their new apartments (with Tampus getting the "best room" in the suite as winner of the previous challenge), the finalists were brought to SM City Marikina
SM City Marikina
SM City Marikina is a shopping mall owned and managed by SM Prime Holdings, and is located in Calumpang, Marikina, Philippines. SM Supermalls is owned by Henry Sy, Sr.. SM City Marikina is the first shopping mall that has a wi-fi connection. The mall was designed by dsgn associates, a firm based in...
and met Herrera together with Tonichi Nocom, an in-house designer for SM, who introduced them to their final challenge: to create a men's wear as their 13th outfit. Herrera also introduced the designers to a group of male models for them to choose. She then reminded the three about the Reunion Special wherein they were asked whom among the eliminated designers they would want to work with, and it turned out that they would become the assistant designers for the finalists. The finalists were given P3,000 (roughly US$62) to create their additional garment.
| Designer | Assistant Designer |
|---|---|
| Aries | Mara |
| Philipp | Lord |
| Veejay | Jaz |
Finale (part 2)
Original Airdate: November 12, 2008The finalists, along with their assistant designers, proceeded to The Fabric Warehouse in Quezon City to purchase materials for their 13th outfit. They then went to SoFA and began creating their garments, which was filled with candid conversations and singing. Their models visited the workroom for fitting. After finishing their men's wear, the finalists continued adding finishing touches to their collections.
A day later, the finalists were brought to SMX Convention Center
Smx convention center
The SMX Convention Center is the largest private venue in the Philippines for trade events, industry conventions, corporate functions, and international exhibitions. Its building is located in Pasay City, right beside the Mall of Asia , and is considered an important part of the Mall of Asia Complex...
for the Final Runway presentation. The chaos of backstage was shown from putting make-up on the models to readjusting the garments to fit the models. Lloren was also backstage for moral support, as well as helping out with removing lint on some of the garments.
Herrera welcomed the audience for the Final Runway and introduced the guest judges. Tampus presented his collection first, which featured crochet
Crochet
Crochet is a process of creating fabric from yarn, thread, or other material strands using a crochet hook. The word is derived from the French word "crochet", meaning hook. Hooks can be made of materials such as metals, woods or plastic and are commercially manufactured as well as produced by...
ed garments from resort wear to evening dresses. Floresca's collection was next, which consisted of monochromatic dresses using neutral tones. Lagat was last to present his collection, which was highlighted with a 1950s-inspired dress that was taken apart by two models and then converted into three separate dresses. After the show, the members of the audience and eliminated designers concluded that the competition was a toss-up between Tampus and Lagat.
At the judging, Laurel baptized Tampus as "The Romantic Designer" as the judges praised his youthful use of crochet. Floresca, meanwhile, was christened by Laurel as "The Modernist" as the judges lauded the practicality of his designs considering the conservative fashion market in the Philippines. Lagat was then labeled as "The Technician" by Laurel and was complimented his complicated designs that did not appear busy. During the deliberations, the judges criticized some of Tampus' overworked garments, Floresca's fabric choices, and Lagat's final dress which they claimed as off from the rest of the garments.
The designers were brought back to the studio for the announcement of winner. Floresca was eliminated first, leaving Tampus and Lagat in contention for the title. Herrera then called Lagat as the winner of Project Runway Philippines, who then fell on his knees and shed tears of joy. He kidded Tampus that his reaction was "embarrassing" and his knees were hurt because of it. The judges, along with Lagat's father, congratulated the winner. The show ended with Lagat talking to his mother, who is working overseas, through a cellular phone.
Reunion special
Original Airdate: October 15, 2008All 14 designers gathered in the studio together with Herrera and Lloren as they discussed their experience on the show as well as how it affected them. It also served as an opportunity to discuss and put a closure on issues between designers. Laurel and Aberin-Sahdwani also appeared on the show, who expressed the difficulty of elimination. The episode was highlighted with an awarding of Fan Favorite.
- Fan Favorite: Eli Gonzales
Road to Runway
Original Airdate: October 22, 2008This special episode looked back on the beginnings of Project Runway Philippines, from its auditions to the announcement of the final three designers. Highlights in this special include their shooting for the show's opening billboard, as well as various rivalries and other never-before-seen footage.
Reception
Television and film critic Nestor Torre of Philippine Daily InquirerPhilippine Daily Inquirer
The Philippine Daily Inquirer, popularly known as the Inquirer, is the most widely read broadsheet newspaper in the Philippines, with a daily circulation of 260,000 copies. It is one of the Philippines' newspapers of record...
wrote that he liked the show's "stylish approximation of the original American franchise, with Teresa Herrera ranking high among (his) list of the show's plus points." However, he criticized the subjectivity of judges' verdicts, adding that "their personal preferences sometimes clouded their judgment." He also expressed his hopes that the judges and mentors of the show go soft on their "tough love" approach, stating that the designers are "young and vulnerable." Opinion columnist Rina Jimenez-David, also from Philippine Daily Inquirer, wrote that Project Runway Philippines is "many times more interesting (than the American original), with more complex intrigues, better clothes, and more outspoken judges." She described Aberin-Sahdwani and Laurel as "unblinkingly honest," adding that the female judge's "insistence on quality, workmanship and attention to detail" was admirable.
Meanwhile, Mindy Baldemor of Manila Bulletin
Manila Bulletin
The Manila Bulletin , is the Philippines' largest broadsheet newspaper by circulation, followed by the Philippine Daily Inquirer. It bills itself as "The Nation's Leading Newspaper", which is its official slogan...
stated that Project Runway Philippines did not suffer from poor editing and general lack of personality and attitude that plagued Philippines' Next Top Model
Philippines' Next Top Model
Philippines’ Next Top Model was a Filipino reality competition broadcast by the Radio Philippines Network where a number of women competed for the title of the country's "next top model". The series was a local version of America's Next Top Model...
, which was also produced by Solar Entertainment. She added that the show "captured the essence of Project Runway: panic-inducing, competitive, semi-dramatic, but overall still chic." C. Mendez Legaspi of Business Mirror agreed with Baldermor's observations. However, the fashion journalist was not favorable of "the oft-times not-so-judicious choice of guest judges, the put-on cattiness of certain contestants, and the lame attempts at colegiala
Englog
Englog, sometimes Enggalog, is an informal sociolect in the Philippines. The term is a portmanteau of the words ‘English’ and ‘Tagalog’. It is formed by infusing Tagalog words and structures into English, an example of which is called Konyo English...
accents."
At the Final Runway, Ed Biado of Manila Standard Today
Manila Standard Today
The Manila Standard Today is the fourth-largest broadsheet newspaper in the Philippines as of 2006. Initially established as the Manila Standard, it merged with another newspaper of record, Today, on March 6, 2005...
wrote that "Tampus proved that his penchant for romance can be translated into something more than classic drapes," making him "a very strong contender." Meanwhile, he stated that Floresca's strength lies in "his impeccable ability to modernize his inspiration and make it his own," but he was "not too sure if that 'his own' is exciting enough." Biado declared Lagat as the clear winner, with a collection that was "architectural and every sewing technique is visibly used and executed flawlessly."
Designer competition
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 15 | Episode | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aries | WIN | IN | LOW | WIN | IN | IN | WIN | IN | HIGH | HIGH | LOW | WIN | Finale |
| Philipp | LOW | WIN | HIGH | LOW | HIGH | IN | HIGH | LOW | LOW | LOW | WIN | OUT | Finale |
| Veejay | HIGH | HIGH | IN | LOW | IN | HIGH | IN | IN | WIN | LOW | HIGH | OUT | Finale |
| Mara | LOW | HIGH | HIGH | IN | IN | LOW | LOW | IN | LOW | WIN | OUT | Terno Challenge | |
| Jaz | IN | HIGH | HIGH | HIGH | WIN | HIGH | HIGH | HIGH | HIGH | OUT | Push Tradition Forward | ||
| Eli | IN | LOW | LOW | IN | LOW | WIN | LOW | WIN | OUT | Cinderella Ready-To-Wear Challenge | |||
| Ava | IN | LOW | WIN | IN | IN | LOW | IN | OUT | Pond's Design Challenge | ||||
| Ivan | IN | IN | IN | HIGH | LOW | IN | LOW | OUT | Pond's Design Challenge | ||||
| Bo | IN | IN | IN | IN | LOW | OUT | Wedding Challenge | ||||||
| Winnie | IN | IN | LOW | LOW | OUT | Open Your Eyes | |||||||
| Charette | HIGH | IN | IN | OUT | Nesvita Design Challenge | ||||||||
| Lord | IN | IN | OUT | Hip Hop Meets Couture | |||||||||
| Lorymer | LOW | OUT | 13 Legends | ||||||||||
| Loida | OUT | Individuality as a Designer | |||||||||||
- In Episode 7 Eli have the worst design. Because Eli have immunity for winning the Episode 6 challenge, he was spared for elimination.: Since there were no elimination in Episode 7, the two designers with the lowest scores were eliminated in Episode 8.: Episode 9 is a team challenge. Eli and Jaz were selected as team leaders. Jaz's team got the highest score with Veejay winning for having the best design overall in the challenge. Eli's team got the lowest score and because he is the team leader he was eliminated.
- Green background and WIN means the designer won Project Runway Philippines.
- Blue background and WIN means the designer won that challenge.
- Turquoise background and HIGH means the designer had one of the highest scores for that challenge, and came in second.
- Light blue background and HIGH means the designer had one of the highest scores for that challenge, but did not place in the top two.
- Pink background and LOW means the designer had one of the lowest scores for that challenge, but was not eliminated.
- Orange background and LOW means the designer was in the bottom two, but was not eliminated.
- Violet background and LOW means the designer have the worst design but because of immunity the designer was spared for elimination.
- Red background and OUT means the designer lost and was out of the competition.
Fashion model competition
| Model | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 14 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lois | IN | IN | IN | WIN | IN | IN | WIN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | WIN |
| Paola | IN | IN | WIN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | WIN | IN | OUT |
| Angel | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | WIN | IN | IN | IN | OUT |
| Jo-An | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | WIN | IN | OUT | |
| Lexxi | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | OUT | ||
| Michelle | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | WIN | IN | WIN | IN | OUT | |||
| Christmarie | WIN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | OUT | ||||
| Francy | IN | IN | IN | OUT | IN | IN | OUT | ||||||
| Halley | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | OUT | ||||||
| Jhenn | IN | IN | IN | IN | WIN | IN | OUT | ||||||
| Sally | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | OUT | |||||||
| Kat | IN | WIN | IN | IN | OUT | ||||||||
| Chen | IN | IN | OUT | ||||||||||
| Anna | IN | OUT | |||||||||||
- Green background and WIN means the model was paired with the winning designer, and won the competition.
- Blue background and WIN means the model wore the winning design.
- Teal background and WIN means the model was paired with the winning designer, but did not participate in the runway show.
- Light blue background and IN means the model did not participate in the runway show.
- Pink background and IN means the model wore the losing design.
- Violet background and IN means the model was paired with the losing designer, but did not participate in the runway show.
- Orange background and OUT means the model quit the competition.
- Red background and OUT means the model was eliminated.
Aftermath
Lagat and Tampus said in an interview with BusinessWorld that they are planning on putting up shops in Metro Manila, with Tampus also planning to open an atelierStudio
A studio is an artist's or worker's workroom, or the catchall term for an artist and his or her employees who work within that studio. This can be for the purpose of architecture, painting, pottery , sculpture, scrapbooking, photography, graphic design, filmmaking, animation, radio or television...
in Cebu City. Lagat has said he intends to use the prize money to create a men's wear collection, which he intends to showcase in February 2009. Meanwhile, Floresca (who already has a shop of his own) is in the process of completing a 45-piece collection that will be exhibited in Philippine Fashion Week Autumn/ Winter 2009. The three finalists are also toying with the idea of collaborating.