Multiple passions, same intensity
THE Tikbalang costume designed and meticulously created by actor-host Paolo Ballesteros for candidate Graciella Lehmann bagged the best national costume prize at the recently concluded Binibining Pilipinas beauty pageant.
Not many know that Ballesteros has been designing gowns for pageant aspirants for some time now, and it was only in 2018 when it was publicized that he designed a gown for a Mutya ng Pilipinas candidate.
“Designing gowns and costumes is something that I love to do, and I do it with the same intensity as I do my make up transformations,“he volunteered. Ballesteros has been praised both locally and internationally for transforming himself into famous celebrities like Lady Gaga, Angelina Jolie, Michelle Obama and Julia Roberts.
One of the mainstays of the long-running noontime variety show Eat Bulaga, where he hosts a few segments, Ballesteros is also a well-respected actor. In 2016, he won his first international Best Actor award for the movie Die Beautiful at the 29th Tokyo International Film Festival.
Ballesteros is also very happy that he was tapped to be the main host of Drag Race Philippines, a reality competition TV series for drag queens spun-off from the phenomenal Rupaul’s Drag Race which started airing on several platforms recently.
“I guess there’s plenty of creative juices that need to be squeezed out, so I try to find avenues and outlets to showcase these. Generally, I love to create something from scratch because it not only challenges and satisfies me but it also makes me very happy, “he shared.
A MAN OF MANY PURSUITS
ODELON SIMPAO, a fashion designer, astounded many when he bagged the top plum at the first Hidilyn Diaz open weightlifting championship not too long ago. Originally from Mindanao, Simpao came to Manila to pursue his nursing studies before he was lured into fashion design.
“I was already apprenticing for a lot of designers back in Cagayan de Oro City. When I came to Manila,
I was mentored by Frederick Peralta. I wouldn’t be where I am now without them.“
Along the way he discovered the joys of weightlifting. “I learned about Crossfit training more than 7 years ago and I was deeply into it, I also started my romance with weightlifting. It is a sport of strength and discipline. It also involves a lot of mental assertiveness, something you learn and master through time and regular practice.”
Simpao told us that he loves to learn new things and turn these into passions. “Ever since I was in grade school, I have always been competitive. I love outdoor sports and adventures. Lately I learned how to wakeboard, but the intensity involved in Crossfit training has always been what I am most passionate about.”
During the recent GMA Thanksgiving Gala, Simpao, who has dressed top celebrities, like Marian Rivera, Piolo Pascual and Dennis Trillo, custom-made an elegant suit for award-winning actor Sid Lucero. He was also responsible for several of the gowns of the candidates of the just-concluded Binibining Pilipinas pageant.
Simpao, who has also created clothes and costumes for many of our local TV shows, wants to create fabrics that will be infused with our natural, local fibers. “I also want to learn how to manipulate different techniques in draping and designing,” he added.