“Hablon” Shines
cut ensembles, each gilded with appliqués that were scored by muted undertones of festival elements.
The “Mr & Ms Press Freedom” pageant is one of the highly-anticipated highlights of the annual “Cebu Press Freedom Week.” The pageant is usually the Saturday before the formal opening of the “Cebu Press Freedom Week.”
This year’s celebration closed last night with a well-attended party at the Oakridge on A. S. Fortuna Avenue, Mandaue City.
With barely a month to go, the excitement for the coronation of the first-ever Binibining Cebu reaches a fever pitch. Following the reveal of the 54 candidates to the public in late August, September has been a flurry of exciting pre-pageant activities for the ladies, from a party at Morals & Malice, to charity visits and TV show guestings.
The candidates, who represent each of Cebu’s cities, towns, and municipalities, were on stage in the precoronation event, the Philippine Terno Competition, last night at 9 p.m. at the Cabicera de Argao. It was a fashion show featuring the “hablon” creations of fashion designer Dexter Alazas.
“Hablon,” a by-product of the traditional process of weaving of the same name, is the pride of Argao town. While the first-class southern municipality is also known for its “tableya” and “torta,” “hablon” – a fabric made from local fibers like piña, abaca, and cotton – is fast taking center stage in Philippine fashion through the efforts of Alazas, who first fell in love with it in 2007 while searching for a unique fabric that best represented Cebu. Alazas is one of the first Cebuano designers to create wearable apparel from the fabric, which in turn led him to establish AMANO Craft Collections. “It’s an advocacy line of clothing that aims to reach out to both local and global markets,” Alazas explains. “It’s my own way of adhering to a corporate social responsibility – not just as a designer, but as a proud Cebuano – to make all things as organic and indigenous as possible, crafted by Bisaya hands.”
Binibining Cebu, he adds, recognizes potential in the fashion industry, and supports local in all forms. With the Binibining Cebu 2017 candidates showing the multitude of ways “hablon” can be worn, last night’s show in Argao was surely a shining moment for everything local and truly Cebuano.
After the Philippine Terno Competition, the candidates will face-off once more in the Swimsuit Gala Competition featuring another homegrown brand, Solti Activewear, on September 29, before the coronation night on October 28, at the Pacific Grand Ballroom, Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.
More information on Binibining Cebu 2017 is posted at www.binibiningcebu.com, and at www.fb.com/ BinibiningCebu and @BinibiningCebu on Instagram.
Binibining Cebu is presented by the Sacred Heart School for Boys Batch 1985 Foundation, Inc. through the Bb. Sugbu Charity Foundation, Inc. and Yahoo! Philippines. It is co-presented by Aboitiz Land, Robinsons Land, Chelsea Logistics, Trans Asia Shipping Lines, Phoenix Oils Phils Inc., PAGCOR, SM Seaside City Cebu, Basic Graphics Incorporated, Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino, San Miguel Corporation,
BDO, Cebu Landmasters, and Oro China Jewelry.