Love terno, love local

Twelve years ago, Bench successfully presented the Terno Ball at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila to celebrate the beautiful design of this Philippine national dress. It was also a tribute to my dearest friend, Joe Salazar, one of the greatest Filipino couturiers, who died a few months after. I am remembering him again tonight because he was a master of the terno gown. I believe that Filipino talent can achieve the highest levels of mastery if we properly support it.

We are launching this book Fashionable Filipinas to show how the ternos evolved from its origins into what it is today. It illustrates the structure, details, and pattern of the terno. Just as the Japanese have the kimono, and the Chinese have the cheongsam, and the Indians have the sari. So must we Filipinos hold the same reverence for the terno and its silhouette. Doing so will give us a deeper sense of pride and appreciation for our own.

A special thanks to Gino Gonzales and Mark Higgins, who spent many sleepless nights in making this book project possible and to all the other contributors including those who opened their archives to help with this project. I think that every Filipino, regardless of age, status, or generation, has something to learn from this book. It is not just for Filipinos past and present, but for the Filipinos of the future.

“Love Local” has been the thrust of Bench’s campaigns not just this year, but for the past 20 years. Let us renew our commitment to loving all things local — the best of our culture, our national identity, and our history. May tonight be a night of inspiration. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas.