Philippine Fashion Pillars 2024

 Fashion stalwarts honored in Teatrino event

By Earl D.C. Bracamonte

Fashion designers Oskar Peralta, Amir Sali, Manny Halasan, Johnny Abad, Dave Ocampo, and Dong Omaga Diaz, together with supermodels Wilma Dassent, Pebbles de Asis, Angel Agustin, Gerone Olorocissimo, Hannah Arnold, Kathy Moya, Faith Da Silva, and Lito Gruet were the honored recipients of the 1st Fashion Pillars Awards held recently at the Teatrino in Greenhills.

Also recognized in the same ceremony were fashion directors Bobbit Patag, Concon Siñel, and Larry Asistin, maquillage meister Noel Flores, lensman Edward Dela Cuesta, John Robert Powers' trainer Ning Corteza, advocacy queen Jane Knof, fashion columnist Charlize Mendez Legaspi, and your truly.

In its fifth year edition, a few distinguished men and women where also cited for the successful streak in their respective careers. The lone recipient of Best Magazine's Humanity Award 2024 is Ma. Cecilia Bravo, an exceptional leader who is an inspiration in the fields of public service and philanthropy.

"It is important to help other people because we need to pay forward and multiply the cycle of benevolence so other people in need would receive help as well. Being in need also happened to me in the past. Without the people helping us during such a trying time, we wouldn't be where we are now.

"I was raised by good parents who were innately helpful, so I guess I got their values; their legacy has become mine, too! When you help, you're spreading love. Those you've extended a hand to think you are an instrument sent from heaven. Most of the problems nowadays revolve around worries on finances and business concerns," intimated Ma. Cecilia Bravo who was bestowed the highest honor of the evening.

"I am humbled by this recognition. But this honor is a responsibility, too! So I asked God to point me to those who are really in need and not those who scam people for their money. My advice to other generous souls is for them to love themselves, too. That they fix their relationship with God and their families first. And most importantly, that they find their center and their core. You can't achieve anything alone. When you are truly happy and loved, that's when you are truly successful," Bravo added.

The other Faces of Success 2024 awardees included media personality Lhar Santiago, film director Elwood Perez, concert queen Pops Fernandez, OWWA administrator Arnel Ignacio, theater actor Phil Noble, entrepreneur Joel Cruz, young actors Kelvin Miranda & Zandro Muhlach, public defender Persida Acosta, Broadway star Ima Castro, choreographer Geleen Eugenio, radio hosts Rico Robles & John Fontanilla, media practitioners Jojo Panaligan & Arlo Custodio, decorated Naval officer Col. Ariel Querubin, and veteran actress Odette Khan, who shared that the secret to success is to love your job. Khan said that there will be many sacrifices along the way, including family.

Several.brands and labels were likewise recognized during the evening's ceremonies. These included solar tech advocate Sunsmart, hotel chain Sogo, online channel Klik.ph, and new all-male singing group Cloud 7. Young actor Rob Gomez and character actress Sheryl Cruz were named Stars of the Night.

This year's beneficiary of the event is the Munting Kawanggawa organization of Montalban, Rizal. Founder Erlinda Saspa Marcelino received the donation from organizer Richard Ferdinand Hiñola. This annual outreach project rounds up Pinoys here and abroad who have excelled in their respective fields of endeavor.