Actresses Keanna Reeves and Rochelle Barrameda with visual artist Lia Torralba wore the theme of violence against women. The creation made by Gerry Katigbak is called as Black and Blue All Over. Reeves, Barrameda and Torralba wore the sorrow of women in black see-through dresses accessorized with chains and padlocks as necklaces. The models depicted, as Gabriela puts it, the Seven Deadly Sins committed against women such as sex trafficking and prostitution, domestic violence, rape and sexual abuse, violence as a result of political repression, sexual discrimination and exploitation and lack of social services. Barrameda’s sister was a victim of violence against women. Her sister Ruby was brutally killed and her body was found stuffed in a steel drum encased in concrete in Manila Bay. Reeve, on the other hand, was a self-confessed escort girl catering allegedly to lawmakers.
Actress Shamaine Buencamino wore an Egai Fernandez creation for the election scenarios theme called as Desperately Clinging Gloria. Buencamino wore skin tone body tights with a cape with illustrations of Mrs. Arroyo’s agenda: failure of elections, Martial Law or hold over. According to Gabriela, artist Egai Fernandez used the latest type of body paint in the style similar to that used in the movie Avatar.
The Spring Collection
The Spring collection featured another set of attires reflecting the people’s agenda. being put forward to the candidates to the May 2010 elections. It is called as Spring collection to exhort candidates to “spring to the challenge.” The thematic issues for the spring collection are good governance, civil liberties and democratic rights, sovereignty and national patrimony, genuine agrarian reform and national industrialization, women’s emancipation and call to action.
Actress and model Angel Aquino wore a shirt bearing the words of the Amado V. Hernandez doctrine (Photo by Anne Marxze D. Umil / bulatlat.com)
Visual artist Mona Dela-Cruz and Ana Liao modeled the theme good governance. Dela-Cruz was dressed in a white dress called Nothing to Hide with a design of a P1,000 bill with transparent overcoat accessorized with a five centavo coin as necklace signifying the people’s clamor for transparency in all government dealings. This dress is designed by the collaboration of Lia Torralba and Gerry Katigbak. Liao, on the other hand, wore a yin and yang dress also with transparent overcoat and a Scale of Justice head gear.
Actress and model Angel Aquino wore a simple over sized shirt with the words Amado V. Hernandez doctrine printed on it for the civil and political rights theme. On gay rights, Mac-Mac Sanchez and Edwin Quinsayas made the crowd go wild when they walked the ramp wearing shirts with prints that read,“I’m out, I’m Gay” and “Full Equality, Freedom from discrimination and violence”. Called as Out and Gay and let it be that way!, the models portrayed a liberated gay couple who intimately hugged and touched each other’s face.
Secretary General of Gabriela Lana Linaban also walked the catwalk wearing a Rei Rana and Ugat Lahi Artist Collective creation called “The People United.” Clad in a violet streamer recycled into a dress with an oversized red ribbon also from streamers, Linaban joined the models of National Industrialization and Land Reform signifying the unity of the Filipino people in fighting for their demands for genuine change through militant actions.
The fabulous and sophisticated creation by Rei Rana with the theme of national patrimony was worn by three models symbolizing the Philippine flag: Josalee Deinla of NUPL, Angel Aquino and Jam de Belen a professional model wore a gown in blue, white and red respectively accessorized with a golden head dress as golden color of the sun signifying the Filipino people’s patriotism and bravery, noble intentions for its country and bright rays of the sun against foreign domination.
Sara Pineda of Salinlahi wore a creation by Ugat Lahi Artist Collective on political killings. (Photo by Ronalyn V. Olea / bulatlat.com)
The creation of Joelle Fernandez for women’s emancipation was also worn by three models: the nominees of Gabriela Women’s Party-list (GWP).
The last two models for call to action are none other than the two Makabayan senatoriable bets GWP Rep. Liza Maza and Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo. A creation both made by Dennis Cabalinan, Rep. Maza was dashing in a gown called Colors of Hope painted with the colors of hope in the politics of change. Rep. Ocampo looked even more handsome clad in an see-though overcoat painted with fire under a red kamiso chino. The creation is called Fiery Fight as he remains a fiery fighter who enjoins the people in the continuing struggle for genuine change.
Adorable children and grand children of the members of Gabriela also walked the ramp wearing all white attires with roses symbolizing purity and a bright future ahead for the country and the people. (Bulatlat.com)
