MANILA, Philippines - No other hair event closes the year quite like Hair Asia. Given the series of unfortunate calamities, Hair Asia’s Salon Spectacular held last November at the World Trade Center succeeded in uplifting the hairdressing industry’s sagging morale.
Hosting the event were hairstyling master, James Cooper and Hair Asia president and CEO, Evelyn Alvaran-Cruz. On jury-duty for the rigorous competitions are the bigwigs of the Philippine beauty industry — Stefan Wilczynski, Jeave Gabiana and Angelo Justin (Basement Salon and Academy); Philip Louie Kee (Razzle Dazzle); Loida Pio (Senior Educator, L’Oréal Philippines); celebrity stylists — Patrick Rosas, Deng Foz and Leony Diaz; and European hair guru and Vidal Sassoon prestigious alum, Matthew Foster of the United Kingdom.
The winners are John Sunga of Taytay, Rizal for the Ladies Cut and Colour; Rolex Rivera, Men’s Cut and Colour category for his interpretation of the Bengal Lion; and Arnel Palmera in the Progressive Evening Hairstyle and Makeup for his elegant interpretation of the classic bouffant and his skillful and clean makeup application. Palmera eventually bagged the overall champion trophy for his accumulated scores in all the categories he joined.
The competitions were relieved by production numbers such as the romantic Bridal Hair and Makeup Show by Bambbi Fuentes. It featured bridal gowns by designers Peter Lim, Noel Crisostomo and Luis delos Santos, culminating with a stunning JC Buendia creation modeled by Marian Rivera who graced the cover of the Hair Asia Magazine’s 2008 Bridal Issue which sold out as soon as it hit the stands.
Last but not the least to walk the hall was Katrina Halili, Hair Asia Magazine’s latest cover girl. Katrina represented her home-region of Palawan and was escorted by Palawan, Mayor Edward Hagedorn and Palawan regional chairman, Bong Villanueva, Katrina’s hairstylist for many years.