LOOK: Filipino designers reinterpret works of Joya, Amorsolo, and other 20th century artists at TernoCon 2025
Filipino designers and Philippine art shone at its brightest during the 2025 TernoCon held over the weekend.
Organized by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) in partnership with BENCH, the 12 Filipino designers for this year’s competition drew inspiration from national artists like Hernando R. Ocampo, Jose Joya, and Fernando Amorsolo, as well as other notable artists like Ramon Orlina and Impy Pilapil to give another life to their iconic art styles with their bold and modern takes on fashion.
The final competition and cultural show held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex on Jan. 26 was graced by notable personalities, including celebrities Alden Richards, Dawn Zulueta, and Michelle Dee, as well as First Lady Liza Marcos.
Capiz’s Peach Garde drew inspiration from the architectural style of National Artist Leandro Locsin, who is notable for his brutalist designs. Garde’s work featured minimal-looking with unconventional elements in traditional dresses, including thick-structured butterfly sleeves and daring patchwork. She won the coveted Pacita Longos Award.
Bryan Peralta of Makati, who received the Pura Escurdia Award (silver medal), channeled the abstract expressionist, Jose Joya. His collection featured spontaneous lines in vibrant hues and layers in a stone beige fabric, seemingly resembling a canvas.
Meanwhile, Ramon Valera Awardee (bronze medal) Ram Silva of Iloilo took inspiration from Amorsolo’s works depicting rural landscapes and its rich cultural heritage. Silva’s works featured layered hay on the skirt and the traditional bilao as a headdress, with accents of gold in the ensemble.
The Joe Salazar Award (Chief Mentor’s Award) was given to Windell Madis of Ilocos Norte, who took inspiration from Ocampo’s vibrant hues and biomorphic shapes.
The rest of the finalists also showcased their artistry with their respective artist inspirations. Patrick Lazol gave a minimalist take on Joya’s signature brushstrokes in vibrant palettes, while Jared Servano’s works featured Nena Saguil’s geometric abstract art style.
Geom Hernandez, meanwhile, showcased innovation from Ocampo’s space and movement in vibrant hues of purple and red.
Jema Gamer incorporated Vincente Manansala’s cubism in her collection in colorful hues. Irene Subang showed stunning pieces inspired by BenCab’s iconic works on movement, featuring bedazzled hand-headdress depicting the blind, the deaf, and the mute.
Nina Gatan’s collection highlighted movement in water inspired by sculptor Impy Pilapil, who is known for her organic forms.
Jericho Gonzales took inspiration from visual artist Onib Olmedo’s figurative expressionism art style, which centers on human emotions and their complexities. Lexter Badana put the spotlight on Ramon Orlina’s glass sculptural works in his terno collection.
Check out the rest of the pieces below:
TernoCon is a prestigious fashion event that celebrates the timelessness of the Philippine traditional dress and its history, while also encouraging and showcasing young artists and experts' creativity and innovation in the ever-evolving fashion industry.
