Cavernous Museo del Galeon transformed into TernoCon venue (Photo by Thelma Sioson)
At curtain call, Jojie Lloren with showbiz celebrity Maine Mendoza and model/fashion designer Jo Ann Bitagcol behind
Cary Santiago (right) with Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Dee
Jaggy Glarino (right) with Marina Benipayo wearing the finale of his collection
Ternocon 2024 was the Ternocon to end all Ternocons of recent years. The annual showcase of innovative terno designs, held June 10 at the cavernous Museo del Galeon at SM Mall of Asia, was spectacular in scope, given the immense venue space, and in production that showcased the music and fashion designs of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. It celebrated the 126th year of Philippine independence using a vibrant and heady mix of Filipino cultural heritage and fashion.
Titled KKK: Kasarinlan, Kultura, Kasuotan, the invitational fashion show, a collaboration of Bench/ lifestyle + clothing and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), with SM, featured the terno collections of Jojie Lloren paying homage to Luzon, Cary Santiago to the Visayas, and Jaggy Glarino to Mindanao.
It was the first time that the Museo del Galeon, a humongous space with immense dome, was used as fashion show venue, and it was filled to the hundreds, with guests attired in, as the invitation said, casual Filipiniana. Leading the guests was First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos.
The raw, unfinshed interiors of the Museo was used to full aesthetic advantage, with iron rods, that could have been an eyesore otherwise, transformed into stage markers that lit up in colors of the Philippine flag, and where models wove their way around.
The Ramon Obusan Dance Troupe, an institution in Philippine indigenous dance, opened the show with the rhythm, music and dance movements of Mindanao. The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra performed Filipino classics and OPMs arranged by Naldy Rodriguez, with Hermi Ranera conducting.
Jojie Lloren: Simplicity of structure
Cary Santiago: Master of visual design and craftsmanship
Jaggy Glarino: Bringing Mindanao aesthetic to the mainstream
Maine Mendoza in Jojie Lloren
Models in Jojie Lloren’s ‘A Lullaby for my Mother’ collection
Lloren’s A Lullaby for My Mother collection proved why this veteran of both RTW and made-to-order fashion is the acknowledged master of tailoring and minimalism. His 12 elegant ternos, done in honor of his mother and his motherland, showed clean lines, structured tailoring (vest, blazer, peplum, for instance), yet with soft elegant execution, all done in greys and muted shades. His silhouette was basic, tweaked to a cutting-edge level in some instances. Lloren’s terno is for the Filipina or today’s contemporary woman (i.e. career women) who doesn’t want flamboyant fashion that shouts, but fashion she can wear as personal identity—Lloren never goes over the top.
Santiago’s Ikonograpiya collection was, as expected, one showstopper, with Santiago proving why he’s like a fashion magician who can cunningly blend design and craftsmanship. With every collection, he proves why Cebu is the center of artisanship and innovation in the country. Few designers here and there can match Santiago’s intricately visual construction. His terno collection was inspired by iconic Filipino symbols such as the sampaguita, the Philippine national flower, the jeepney, and sorbetes (Filipino “dirty” ice cream) in the white, yellow, blue, red of the national flag.
Glarino’s Lemlunay collection (nine ternos, three barongs) showcased the weaves, the beading, the intricate metal craft that remain extant in the tribes of Mindanao. With judicious styling, Glarino’s design should be a welcome value to mainstream Philippine fashion.
Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Dee wears Cary Santiago terno draped at the side, with diaphanous tulle layer
Cary Santiago’s intricate pleating and draping
Marina Benipayo in Jaggy Glarino’s terno of ‘banig’ weave
Jaggy Glarino’s terno dress
The public gets to see the Ternocon 2024 exhibit until June 23 at the Main Atrium of SM Mall of Asia (across Bench and The French Baker). The 24 select ensembles from the runway collections can be seen up close.
Miss Universe Philippines 2024 Chelsea Manalo in Filipinna tunic vest
Singer JK Labajo
Celebrated fashion designer Inno Sotto
Fashion director Daryl Chang
Fashion designer JC Buendia
Bench lifestyle + clothing founder Ben Chan and TernoCon artistic director Gino Gonzales
Suyen Corporation’s Kai Lim
Ching Cruz in a T.C. Alvarez terno
Lucy Torres and Richard Gomez
Tweetie De Leon, Myrza Sison, and Apples Aberin
SM Supermalls president Steven Tan, Philippine Airlines president Stanley Ng, and Bench lifestyle + clothing founder Ben Chan
Lucy Torres, Richard Gomez, Pasay City mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano, and SM Supermalls president Steven Tan
Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) president Kaye Tinga, CCP vice chair Margie Moran Floirendo, SM Supermalls president Steven Tan, Suyen Corp. president Virgilio Lim, and Suyen Corp. vice president for finance Nenita Lim
Nicole Ortega, Carla Tengco, Bench lifestyle + clothing founder Ben Chan, Jojie Dingcong, Ching Cruz, Susan Joven, Ana Lorenzana de Ocampo, and Mia Borromeo
Jaggy Glarino, CCP vice chair Carissa Coscolluela, Jojie Lloren, CCP president Kaye Tinga, Bench/ lifestyle + clothing founder Ben Chan, First Lady Liza Marcos, SM Markets chairman Herbert Sy, CCP vice chair Margie Moran, Suyen Corp. president Virgilio Lim, Cary Santiago, and SM Supermalls president Steven Tan
Visit the Ternocon exhibit and celebrate kasarinlan, kultura, at kasuotan!
To know more about SM Supermalls’ exciting fashion events, visit www.smsupermalls.com or follow @SMSupermalls on social media.
