CEBU, Philippines - Browsing the racks before the actual pictorial, I claimed that life as a fashion scribe means living with layers of style history, from distant trends of yesterdays to dizzying tomorrows. There those layers were at the Filippo boutique at the ground level of Ayala Center Cebu --- hair that looked like a lift from classical statuary, skirts that were futuristically spliced, a dozen contrary ideas in between. Tying them all together was the signature notion of the hybrid: uniting a stretch jersey dress and chain mail like beading in one piece; combining shine and more shine,bustier and volume skirt, transparent and translucent; bringing together a chic pattern that vibrantly captured the colors of a wild orchid. A bronze and gold asymmetric dress with peek a boo cut offs. A bag that appeared to be cut from animal hide was actually rubber in gold; another shift dress-the most significant in the collection-was in a pewter silver hue like a cd, reflecting Philip Rodriguez' predilection to the information-gathering possibilities of the Internet. "I'm always checking things that are new," he quipped.
Technology's influence on Filippo comes naturally from Rodriguez, who was saying that there's no need to refer back to the past when the online world is awash with late-breaking info sometimes of the past. Nevertheless, there was a curious and charming retro edge in the metallica collection, evident in details-the fabric, beading and accessorizing-that could almost pass as folkloric like Camelot, were it not for the fact that they were delivered in such an incongruous way yet turned out in a perfect blend. It guarantees that this label's collections will always exceed expectations, in the best possible way.Bravissimo Filippo! (All clothes available at Filippo in Ayala Center Cebu) (FREEMAN)