Fashion with a heart

The Century Park Hotel, one of the foremost hotels in the Manila Bay area, recently played host to a most-awaited event in the fashion industry. Dubbed "The Century in Fashion: Encore," the show proved that fashion is not merely cutting cloth or a statement, but an art in itself crisscrossing generations, cultural and artistic boundaries.

Pillared by the support of Century Park’s Mabuhay Gold Awardee GM Bobby Carpio and staff, led by the dynamic duo of food and beverage manager Angeli Yatco and public relations assistant Augusto "Toti" Palileo, in cooperation with Pagcor, Fortune Tobacco Corporation, Sara Lee Philippines, David’s Salon and Tanduay Distillers, the event featured the colorful, lively and distinct works of the members of the Fashion Designers Association of the Philippines (FDAP) as sashayed in by the gorgeous and sexy models of Body Shots.

Manila’s who’s who in the business circuit graced the illustrious occasion. Among the beautiful people present, spotted were the charming philanthropist Carmen Tan and Century Park Hotel’s charming executive vice president Julio Tan.

FDAP members and fashion luminaries Francis Calaquian, Ivan dela Cruz, Jon Espeleta, Gener Gozum, Fanny Serrano, Johnny Abad, Babang del Mundo, Ramon Esteban, Rheez Chua, Ernie Uy, Lito Perez, Michael Angelo Afable, Roland Lirio, Richard Papa, Edgar San Diego, John Abul, Bumbee Ramos, Edgar Madamba, Rem Divino, Tonet Martinez, Vivo Nazareno and Marisoc Nueno unraveled their creative streak, bringing home the point that fashion is present not only in fashion aficionados, but also most especially among those who have the desire to look good every day.

Proceeds went to Asiac-Operation Rainbow Philippines, Inc., an organization that helps physically-handicapped and deformed children, orphans and adults receive proper medical care and attention required for their specific needs.

Our praises go to Century Park Hotel for staging a creative and more than generous endeavor that will not only contribute to our cultural heritage, but also benefit the least of our brethren!

* * * Trees chic!

The Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) and the Makati Garden Club (MGC) will host the eighth Festival of Trees at the Manila Polo Club on Nov. 14.

This partly describes the partnership of the PBSP and MGC as they celebrate eight years of helping rural communities through the Festival of Trees. It all started in 1995 when the MGC, a small group of plant enthusiasts, decided to raise funds for PBSP’s poverty alleviation programs through a gala night auction of exquisitely-decorated Christmas trees and art pieces. Through the years, well-known artists donated their masterpieces as a show of support to this cause. One of the most loyal artist benefactors, Anita Magsaysay-Ho, has since grabbed the limelight as her painting fetched a hefty P3.5M last year.

But beyond the night of dinner, dance and auctions of Manila’s most influential, fisher folk communities and upland farmers – in Ragay Gulf, Quezon province, Maqueda Bay in Samar and Olango Island in Cebu – have slowly gained confidence in helping themselves help themselves.

The annual Festival of Trees fund campaign has consistently included the Maqueda Bay, Samar as its program beneficiary in the last six years. It has generated a total of P13.6M for its various projects. In Samar alone, assistance provided by the Festival has reached 14 community-based organizations in 14 fishing barangays. Through a combination of upland-agricultural and coastal-marine technologies, such as high value crop and cut-flower production, mussel and seaweed growing, and cultivation of lapu-lapu in cages, household income increased from P1,500/month to P3,000-P5,000. This is significant considering 61 percent of its 268,436 household population lives below the poverty line. Other types of livelihood which developed in these communities are the processing of smoked tahong (mussels) production and squid chips which are being sold locally and have gone as far as Manila.

This year’s Festival of Trees hopes to raise P8M and will be utilized to continually support PBSP’s two programs – Olango Island, in Cebu and Maqueda Bay, Samar – which will be the focus of this year’s fund-raising efforts. This is all part of the eighth Festival of Trees celebration of being better in what PBSP and MGC do and, ultimately, building better lives in rural communities in Maqueda Bay and Olango Island.

This column wishes them success and good luck!