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Trailblazing Filipino fashion designers Lenora “Lenlen” Cabili and Fernandina “Ditta” Sandico, will be highlighted in an exciting cultural and fashion exhibit titled “Prelude to Pinagmulan” preceding the Philippine Ballet Theatre’s (PBT) “Ibalon” show to be held on Oct. 27 at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts.

The exhibit, which will be free to the public from 1 to 5 p.m., before the ballet show and performance at 5 p.m., will highlight designs created from indigenous materials and will feature tribal music. Oskar Atendido is the exhibit designer while Arni Montinola is the exhibit master engineer. Complimentary refreshments will be served.

Lenora Luisa Cabili / CONTRIBUTED

Asked what made her decide to join this exhibit and one-of-a-kind cultural event, Cabili said, “It was because of the vision of pushing for Philippine culture as our soft power through the five senses. When I met Marilou Magsaysay (PBT president) and Rosie Chua (‘Ibalon’ producer), we had a common vision of highlighting our culture through textiles and celebrating Filipino artisans.”

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Sandico, on the other hand, said, “Participating in a fashion show in a new venue, especially in the United States, is always an exciting opportunity for me. It allows me to connect more closely with my clients there, who have been incredibly loyal to my craft.”

Ditta Sandico / CONTRIBUTED

Cabili added that she is “honored to be showcasing my collection with Ditta who is a dear friend and a designer I respect for her work with indigenous and traditional fabrics like abaca. This shared appreciation of our local textiles will be celebrated through the pieces we will be showing.”

Sandico, who is celebrating almost four decades in the fashion industry, agreed. She said, “Being chosen as one of the featured designers is a great honor. I’m excited to showcase my work at a prestigious venue like the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts. I’m also looking forward to collaborating with a team of like-minded artists who will be presenting their talents and expertise on stage.”

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Cabili, the creative director of Filip + Inna, the fashion brand she established in 2009, described her pieces: “The pieces we are presenting will show the diversity of our cultural traditions through weaving, beadwork and embroidery.”

Sandico shared, “For this show, I will be featuring outfits made from our exclusive fabric, banaca, which is a unique blend with abaca as a key ingredient. The silhouettes will be both sculptural and traditional, drawing inspiration from the Filipiniana style of dress. In addition, we will showcase Mangyan-embroidered fabrics, crafted into modern pieces designed for the contemporary market.”

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When asked about her favorite outfit, Cabili said, “The Alegria terno which is a collaboration with Balay ni Atong. The design process started when Al Valenciano asked me to design a piece using his silk inabel fabric, which was developed in 2016. Taking into consideration the width of the fabric, I decided to create the siete cuchillos (seven spearheaded panel skirt) which was a popular style during the end of the 19th century. The raglan is one of my favorite sleeve details and I used it for the fitted top with a high collar.

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“Upon closely inspecting the fabric, I noticed that its mata mata design had similar components to the shell beads that we already had on hand. The beads were inspired by the Maranao inlay, and were custom-made in Cebu. The garment’s final version was completed when I redesigned it to include the terno sleeves.

“What makes the Alegria terno quite special is that it represents the three major islands of our archipelago – Inabel fabric from Luzon, shell beads from the Visayas, on a beadwork pattern inspired by the Maranao inlay of Mindanao.”

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Sandico said, “As a designer, I don’t have just one favorite outfit. My choice of clothing depends on the occasion and what feels most suitable at the moment. When it comes to color and silhouette, I typically start with a solid black or white base. I then layer on bright jewel tones and vivid shades like turquoise, magenta, or chartreuse to create striking accents against a simple background.”

On her website, Sandico explained her mission: “As a designer, my mission is simple, my advocacy direct. I strive to craft smart, timeless, stylish pieces using organic indigenous fabrics in the hope of promoting my country’s natural resources and advocating a sustainable way of life. My passion for fabrics has, over time, transformed itself into a life devoted to promoting the use of these local textiles and supporting the communities that produce them.”

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Get the total amazing cultural experience and see the exhibit. “Ibalon,” presented in partnership with the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), is co-presented by Philippine Airlines, Arko Foods Market (Glendale) and American Seafood Ranch Market (Cerritos). It will be an unforgettable evening staged by PBT, which is also the CCP’s resident dance company.

Ted Benito is producing the show for LXV Enterprises, LLC. Emmy and Telly Award winner Lisa Lew’s P & L Media provides the creative video marketing concept and campaign production.

Tickets at $250, $200, $150, $100 and $75 are available from Rosie (818) 859-3108; Gilbert (213) 458-0582; and Gerald (909) 851-6406. Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts is at 18000 Park Plaza Drive, Cerritos, California 90703.

(Photos by Henry Ferrer, Arthur Tselishchev and Kyle Magsino)

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