A night of fashion and charity at the Gawad Kalinga Hope Ball

It was a night of fashion and charity on November 9  when the country’s elite gathered at the Peninsula Manila in their stunning barongs, tuxedos and gowns for the third Gawad Kalinga (GK) Hope Ball.

Spearheaded by the Fashion and Design Council of the Philippines, in-demand designers like JC Buendia, Rajo Laurel, and Randy Ortiz celebrated Philippine fashion with a memorable fashion show in which notable names in the country—for the night, called "GK Champions"—played designers' muses.

“For the Hope Ball, FDCP designers were matched with GK Champions who agreed to model. Part of the fee for the gowns and barongs went to the GK,” said FDCP president JC Buendia.

Among the GK Champions was athlete Armand Del Rosario, who walked the runway in a simple Rajo Laurel-designed barong Tagalog.

“The muses are big-hearted GK Champions who were brave enough to model and willing to pay the cost of the garments they're modeling. Designers were matched to the styles and personalities of the champions,” said Buendia.

The designer added that “the clothes presented at the ball each had fabric and/or handiwork done by the various communities.”

Dr. Karen Yabut–Castillo walked the runway in a JC Buendia terno.
Among the stand-out pieces was JC Buendia’s elegant pink mermaid-cut terno with traditional butterfly sleeves made for Dr. Karen Yabut-Castillo. The gown is simple and sophisticated, with some beading on the skirt.

Yabut-Castillo accessorized it with simple dangling earrings that matched her ring, and completed her efforlessly elegant look with a loose '50s bun.

Buendia also designed Lia Andrea Ramos’ two-piece ensemble—a modern, feminine interpretation of a barong paired with a long pleated black skirt. The look exuded glamour and power.

Another standout piece is a red Randy Ortiz number modeled by Salome Uy, with a sheer top and a dramatic take on a peplum skirt.

Ortiz designed a cute little ribbon detail on the waist and made the skirt long with a heavy train.

Furthermore, Uy completed her look with a loose ponytail, light makeup, and dangling earrings.

Part of the fashion show's proceeds will go to the building of relocation sites that is GK’s mission to restore Intramuros, Manila's old Walled City.