The terno as an art form inspired by another art form

For its fourth edition, TernoCon 2025 asked this year’s finalists to draw inspirations from the artworks of some of the best and most celebrated Filipino artists in fashioning their respective three-piece collections. Capiz’s Peach Garde, who channelled National Artist Leandro Locsin’s iconic buildings, wins top prize.

By Alex Y. Vergara

Bench TernoCon 2025, the fourth edition of Suyen Corp.’s efforts to promote and honor one of the country’s most iconic national dresses, the terno, recently ended on a high note at the Philippine International Convention Center’s Reception Hall with Peach Garde besting 11 other finalists to win the Pacita Longos Award (gold medal). This year’s crop of contestants drew inspiration from Filipino artists, living and deceased, to fashion three looks each.

Peach Garde, fourth from left, with Cultural of the Philippines president Kaye Tinga, Suyen Corp. founder and CEO Ben Chan, and his winning creations inspired by the works of the late National Artist Leandro Locsin.

Garde, a native of Tapaz, Capiz, created tailored and architectural pieces inspired by the works of the late National Artist for Architecture Leandro Locsin, whose existing works are heavily influenced by the Bauhaus style of architecture.

Completing this year’s list of winners are Bryan Peralta, Pura Escurdia Award (silver medal); Ram Silva, Ramon Valera Award (bronze medal); and Windell Madis, Joe Salazar Award (chief mentor’s medal).

*Bryan Peralta, channeling the late National Artist Jose Joya, with Tinga, Chan, and his three models*

*Ram Silva, with Tinga, Chan, and his three models, wins third prize.*

*Windell Madis, with Tinga and Chan, and his three looks that earned for him the Chief Mentor’s award*

Peralta drew inspiration from the late National Artist Jose Joya, while Silva was inspired by the bucolic paintings of the late National Artist Fernando Amorsolo. Madis, on the other hand, took inspiration from another late National Artist, H.R. Ocampo.

*Guest of honor First Lady Liza Marcos with, from left, Peralta, Tinga, Garde, Chan, Silva and Madis*

Ben Chan, founder and chairman of Suyen Corp., the company behind several local and foreign fashion and lifestyle brands, including Bench, Human, Kashieca, Cotton On and Urban Revivo, among others, said that this year’s event generated 82 contestants from all over the country. The number was trimmed down gradually until organizers were able to come up with the top 12.

*Ysa Inumerable and her rendition of Anita Magsaysay-Ho-inspired ternos*

The finalists underwent further mentoring from seasoned designers Rhett Eala, Lulu Tan Gan and Ezra Santos. The three mentors also had their individual moments, as they each showed 12 looks also inspired by a certain artist. Eala, through his pieces, took on Lao Lianben, while Tan Gan was inspired by the late National Artist Ang Kiukok’s paintings. For his part, Santos channeled the artworks of the late National Artist Abdulmari Imao.

*Rhett Eala’s looks channel the art Lao Lianben*

*Lula Tan Gan’s looks draw inspiration from the late National Artist Ang Kiukok*

*If the late National Artist Abdulmari Imao’s artworks were turned into ernos, in the hands of Ezra Santos, they would look like these.*

Last year’s gold prize winner, Ysa Inumerable, also had her share of the spotlight with her collection of colorful ternos with contrasting and gradating shades inspired by the artworks of the late Anita Magsaysay-Ho.

Chan led this year’s board of judges composed of Ino Manalo, Dennis Lustico, Monique Villonco and Ricky Toledo. First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, a proponent of local fashion and indigenous weaves, graced the event.

Also gracing the event was Inno Sotto, one of TernoCon’s pioneer mentors and consultants since the contest’s inception in 2019. Sotto was also honored with a special award.

Since TernoCon is a joint project between Suyen Corp. and the Cultural Center of the Philippines, CCP president Kaye Tinga was also present to lend her support. She and Chan delivered respective keynote speeches.

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