Sun, sand and style

Don’t we all wish it could be summer the whole year, and have a legitimate excuse to frolic at the beach and wear a gamut of lights and brights the urban scene isn’t that receptive to? But wishes made upon a clear summer sky aren’t usually granted with ease, that is, unless you wish upon Boracay’s natural canopies and azure waters. Thanks to Boracay’s Mayor Ceciron Cawaling, Rockwell Corporation, and the Professional Models Association of the Philippines (PMAP), summer can last forever.

"Forever Summer" is a collaboration of the office of Mayor Cawaling, Rockwell, "the address of fashionable Manila,"and PMAP. Aimed at promoting the enjoyable and stylish possibilities of summer, the campaign kicked off with a string of events in Manila before laying siege to the popular beach island.

To officially declare the start of summer, Rockwell hosted a vintage bazaar earlier in the year (fast becoming an awaited event by Manila’s style cognoscenti), a travel fair, and the "Forever Summer" kick-off party at the Rockwell strip – all these to officially declare the start of summer. The vintage bazaar featured a line of new local brands such as Aranaz bags, Bags in the City, Cocotini swimwear, Ruth and Esther womenswear, Tonic men’s summerwear, and Diafuego watches. All these brands, with the exception of Tonic, Aranaz travel bags and Bags in the City, were also part of the Boracay leg, where they were welcomed by the sun, sea, and the sunset during a beach fashion show featuring PMAP models.

The fashion show closed another string of events in Boracay, the highlight of which was the PMAP Modelympics, a follow-up to the successful sports fest held at the Rockwell Tent late last year. This time, Modelympics turned up the legwork factor with an island race (patterned after TV’s Amazing Race) that included 12 resorts in the island.

The fashion show was to be the more glamorous affair of the Boracay leg. Set at the beachfront of Boracay institution Pearl of the Pacific, the sunset fashion show featured the chic swimsuits of Cocotini, colorful summerwear by Ruth and Esther, stylish timepieces by Diafuego, and pieces by some of our top local designers, who, in the spirit of fun and fashion, gamely took part in the island race.

As the fashion show revealed, summer wear has gone glam. Swimsuits, cut sexily, are in chic metallic colors; beach lounging is best done in rich prints; and beach parties now take in a dress code that includes silk and satin. Beach wrist candy isn’t just a bevy of chunky water-resistant plastic. Diafuego’s offerings include colorful leather straps and even diamond-studded timetellers. If we were to make summer last forever, let’s at least do it with loads of style.

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The Professional Models Association of the Philippines (PMAP) would like to thank Mayor Ceciron Cawaling; Patrick Tan of Seair; Rockwell, the address of fashionable Manila; Stretch and Virna Payawal of Arrow Visions Events; Caterpillar shoes and apparel for the Modelympics T-shirts; Play & Display; Cocozen virgin coconut oil; San Miguel Beer; Paradise Mango; and the following Boracay resorts and restaurants: partner resorts Asya, Boracay Tropics, Pearl of the Pacific, Bamboo Lounge, and Freckles Resort; participating resorts White House, Balay Apartelle, True Home, Escondido, One Crescent Place, Fat Jimmys, Boracay Holiday, Lazy Dog Resorts, Gumamela Resort, Hey Jude, Crystal Sands, 357 Boracay; and participating bars and restos Club Paraw, Café Ischa, Cyma, Island Chicken Inasal, Palo Maria, Bamboo Lounge, Traviessa, Café Breizh, Crab House at Escondido and Gasthoff.