TERNOCON 2020

Inspired by the successful outcome of Ternocon 2018, the first ever terno making convention and contest held last year at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), the CCP and Bench/Suyen Corporation team up again to pursue its mission of preserving and promoting the Philippine national dress with the implementation of TERNOCON 2020.
The 2020 edition aimed to encourage the use of the terno as a popular form of formal dress, and to inspire and motivate emerging designers to create ternos which are grounded in its history while using contemporary design approaches at the same time. For the competition, an open call to emerging Filipino designers was made last March 2019. 13 finalists were selected out of the 52 proposals received and based on their capacity to deliver/produce garments; and their designs for the 3-piece collection (choice of materials, wearability, clarity of vision, cohesion of pieces, and use of the terno’s butterfly sleeves). Each finalist was required to design and execute a capsule collection of three ternos.
Last May 27-31, 2019, the convention was held at the CCP with a public symposium on May 28 which was attended by the 14 finalists and the mentors which included Inno Sotto reprised his role as chief mentor, Philip Rodriguez of Cebu City, Ivarluski Aseron of Metro Manila, and London based Lesley Mobo who hails from Kalibo, Aklan. Notable resource speakers who have enormous contributions to art,culture, design and fashion talked on specific topics relevant to the program. A series of individual consultations with the mentors was undertaken from August to September 2019.
The final competition judging and showcase with cultural program was held on January 26, 2020 at the CCP Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (main theater) . The mentors together with the gold medalist of TERNOCON 2018, Marlon Tuazon of Angeles City, Pampanga, showcased their 10 piece terno collections. The program also featured an exhibition of dolls in ternos by CholoAyuyao; oil portraits of women in ternos by Rafael del Casal at the 2nd floor hallway and vintage ternos by Salvacion Lim Higgins at the 3rd floor hallway. A select group of prominent performing artists led by the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Hermenigildo Ranera, Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group, Musika Filipina, Sinala Manunubli of Batangas City, stage actor Ronnie Martinez, vocalists Frenchie Dy and Bituin Escalante were featured in the program. The program was streamed live via the CCP and Bench facebook pages.
The top three winners were Hannah Adrias of Pasay (Gold), Jaggy Glarino of General Santos (Silver) and Dinnes Obusan of Tinambac, Camarines Sur (Silver). A special award called the Chief Mentor's Medal was given to Abdul Dianalan of Iligan City/