Images courtesy of BENCH from the Ternocon CCP Event November 2018
The Cultural Center of the Philippines, BENCH and the SM Mall of Asia collaborate for the Ternocon 2018 Exhibit tour which commences this June 12, 2019 at the Atrium, Main Mall of the SM Mall of Asia.
Ternocon 2018 was a terno-making convention and contest for regional designers initiated by the CCP through its Cultural Exchange Department and BENCH (Suyen Corporation). The project aimed to encourage the use of the terno as formal dress, to inspire a new generation of Filipino designers to make ternos that are grounded in the history of the Philippine National Dress, and to motivate regional designers to create works that are at par with the construction techniques of senior fashion designers.
From May 8-10, 2018 a mentoring and preparatory workshop was conducted at the CCP. The Project’s Artistic Director Gino Gonzales together with Ternocon Chief Mentor Inno Sotto, regional mentors JC Buendia (Luzon), Cary Santiago (Visayas), and Len Cabili (Mindanao) shared their respective philosophies and design processes with 30 participants. Twenty-eight designers were finally chosen and asked to create one cocktail version of a balintawak and one formal evening terno each as entries to the competition. The contest proper was held at the CCP main theater stage last Nov. 11, 2018, which included cultural performances that celebrated the diversity of Philippine culture. Gold, silver, and bronze medals were awarded for each category. The program also showcased terno collections by the three Ternocon mentors and an exhibit by the Ternocon Chief Mentor.
Curated by Gino Gonzales, the exhibit features thirty selections from over ninety ternos shown at the CCP last November 11, 2018. Three sections represent the prevalent looks, namely: (1) the use of black, white or gray; (2) the use of jewel colors; and (3) the use of indigenous weaves or textiles. Cocktail versions of the balintawak (country version of the terno that makes use of a kerchief called the alampay) and formal evening versions of the terno (a dress with butterfly sleeves) are mixed together. The exhibit is also made possible with support from the Slim’s Fashion and Arts School, Steven Tan of SM-MOA, Natalya Lagdameo, Zarah Juan, CCP Production Design & Technical Services and the CCP Cultural Content Department.
The Ternocon 2018 Exhibit at the SM MOA runs from June 12-19, 2019. The exhibit tour in other regions which will happen between July to November 2019 is currently being organized. For more information, contact the CCP Cultural Exchange Department at tel. no. 832-1125 locals 1708-1709 and email address (ccp.ced2014@gmail.com).
