FOLLOWING the success of The Manila Film Festival (TMFF), the local government of Manila City gave another platform for young individuals to showcase their outstanding talents.
On Wednesday, June 19, three young fashion designers bared their masterpieces in the second edition of Rampa Manila, a fashion show showcasing the best of Philippine fashion.
Organized by the Manila City government, Rampa Manila aimed to highlight the “future of Filipino fashion” by featuring the works of up-and-coming designers Dhenyze Guevara, Joanna Santos, and Morissette Magalona.
Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna graced the fashion show held at Bulwagang Rodriguez, Manila City Hall. Several well-known personalities were also present at the event, including Vice Ganda and Agot Isidro.
Meanwhile, beauty queens Celeste Cortesi, Ahtisa Manalo, Beatrice Luigi Gomez, and candidates for the Miss Manila 2024 pageant strutted the catwalk wearing the works of young and seasoned fashion designers.
The first to showcase his creation on stage was Magalona, who is known for his modernized classic Filipiniana. Initially an architect, Magalona infused his architectural roots into his design aesthetic, thus resulting in the geometric pieces he displayed at the fashion event.
Known for her contemporary and avant-garde couture designs, Santos, who is a fashion design technology student at iAcademy, channeled the feeling of losing a loved one through her collection that featured various textures such as ruffles, pleats, and drapes.
Meanwhile, 22-year-old fashion designer Guevara exhibited beadworks and transformative silhouettes in her collection, mirroring her belief that fashion will always change. One notable piece she showcased was a fully beaded red ensemble with a mask.
Rampa Manila 2 also unveiled the collections of five seasoned fashion designers: Anthony Ramirez, Jhobes Estrella, Marc Rancy, Neric Beltran, and Val Taguba.
One segment of the fashion show that probably left an impression on the audience was Beltran’s “Dangwa,” making the stage bloom with his floral-inspired collection. He paid tribute to his previous job as a florist through his show.
It was as if the audience witnessed a performance art, where a man was acting as a florist in the center of the stage, while the models walked the runway. The show ended with the florist dressing up the last model with Beltran’s final masterpiece.
Showcasing Divisoria
Rampa Manila 2 was held not only to showcase the talents of the young generation but also to serve as a platform to promote Philippine fashion and culture.
Most of the materials used by the fashion designers were sourced from Divisoria, a popular commercial center in Manila where goods are sold at low prices.
The event aimed to feature “rich, classic, and heritage” found in businesses located in the marketplace, said the organizers of the fashion show.
In her speech, Lacuna highlighted how Manila City–particularly Divisoria–played an important role in the country’s fashion industry, stressing how the capital city has become a home to renowned designers and a go-to place for fashion materials.
“Dito sa Maynila matatagpuan ang lahat ng klase ng tela, sinulid, butones, at ipa bang mga kailangan sa pagbuo ng damit. Maging pasadya man o ready-to-wear ay marami pa ring pagpipilian sa mga nasabi kong lugar, lalo na sa Divisoria,” said the mayor.
With Rampa Manila 2, Lacuna said the Manila City government hoped to elevate the fashion industry in the capital city.
Rampa Manila was launched in 2023, featuring modern Filipiniana collections of several renowned designers such as Michael Leyva, Jo Rubio, Puey Quiñones, Marlon Tuason, and Albert Andrada.
