CULTURAL...

gratitude to Dusit for such a gift, especially in this Christmas Season of Giving,” said Leonilo Rivero, the SOS Village Director.

Dusit Hotels and Resorts General Manager Christoph Kuch, in his welcome speech delivered during the Gala, reiterated, “It has been our vision to take Davao to the next level as it has a lot to offer. In our three years here, Dusit has been witness to milestones and celebrations. Tonight, we are making our own. I am proud to say that along with the Emilia Sitjar Jewellery and the DFDC, the Dusit Charity Gala will be a gamechanger, not just in the fashion industry but in helping communities.” For indeed, the international hotel brand has been helping elevate the promising fashion and jewelry industries of Davao since the past by giving due recognition to Davao’s talented artistes. Thanks to the avid support of Dusit Cluster Director of Sales & Marketing, Lannie A. Merilo, who has always patronized Davao fashion designers and other outstanding artisans of the City. Councilor Al Ryan Alejandre, who represented Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, delivered an inspiring message and thanked Dusit for the big help to Davao’s underprivileged segment of the community as well as its talented artistes.

The show, which started late as expected, began with the impressive performances from the award-winning University of Mindanao Chorale, Dabawenya singer

Maan Chua, and the Davao Maharlika Strings. Also performing later that evening were three young ladies of the group called Gleetery who were joined by some SOS children. Happily, Dusit Davao gave the spotlight to exceptional Mindanaoan talents.

The much awaited fashion show of the DFDC had the theme, Elements. The runway collections of the eight members of the DFDC provided a visual spectacle to everyone’s expectation: Aztec Barba (Fire), Egay Ayag (Earth), Benjie Panizales (Water), Emi Englis (Earth), Edgar Buyan (Fire), Bamba Limon (Faith), Windel Mira (Water), and Dodjie Batu (Earth). “The eight featured designers’ collections resonate with the call of the earth, water, air and fire with reverberating distinct Mindanaoan aesthetics. Most importantly, this event is the first of many attempts to renew our passion for fashion by positioning our hearts in creating a community that genuinely cares,” expressed Dodjie Batu, the President of DFDC.

Emil Sitjar’s well curated jewelry collection from his family’s Emilia Sitjar Jewellery is all about “gratitude”. “A Springtime of Gratitude tries to capture how we feel—of being grateful for my family to have come out from the pandemic relatively healthy; of being able to restart our lives after over two years of ‘winter’;