The Vicente Manansala Freeway National Artist Collectors Series
by Juan Manila
Manila, Philippines
Back in 2009, FREEWAY has blazed a trail by reintroducing the Philippine Arts and Culture to the younger generation with its Freeway Loves Art: National Artist Collectors’ Series, making Fashionalism more hip and relevant. This creative infusion of fashion and art gave birth to these well-loved series that featured National Artists Nick Joaquin (Literature), Ang KiuKok (Visual Arts), Jose Garcia Villa (Literature), Ramon Valera (Fashion Design) and the first living NA in the series, F. Sionil Jose (Literature).
This Holiday 2011, Freeway brings the sixth installment of the National Artist Collectors’ Series honoring Vicente Manansala, National Artist for Visual Arts.
The collection was launched in a fashion show and special tribute to the man of the hour. A special celebration of the life and great works of the legendary Visual Artist was held at The Row, Glorietta 5 yesterday, October 18. The event gathered both fashion and art enthusiasts, media friends and bloggers and the family and friends of Manansala.
The event was hosted by two of the well loved vibrant celebrities and trendsetters Tim Yap and Divine Lee, but it was only Tim that I saw when I arrived at the venue, a little late that evening. From the people who where there early, I learned that both celebrities wore Manansala outfits, as they added fun and candor in the evening. The very special guests Maritess Mendoza-Pineda, President of Friends of Manansala Foundation, Cedie Lopez-Vargas of The Lopez Museum and Ronna Manansala, granddaughter of Vicente Manansala shared their interesting stories and life experiences with man of the hour, Vicente Manansala.
The 22 piece beautiful collection was showcased in a Fashion Show. The audience had first dibs view of this much talked about collection as the original art pieces were flashed on the LED screen onstage. It was real euphoria to see how Manansala masterpieces we so used to see in frames and canvasses were translated in various wearable ways suited to today’s modern times. The vibrant colors of the Manansala paintings were showcased in the sublimation knits, as well as in the woven pieces through prints and embroideries. Fab shoes worn by models were sponsored by Muñiz Shoes which is designed by Carmina Villarroel (http://munizshoes.com/) and now available online or at select Ensembles outlets. Make up of the runway models by Margo Sarmiento, hair by Nina Escano, Charlene Manibo and Anna Liza Sulthan.
There was also live sketching done by the artists from the Kunst Pilipino Group before the event. Tim Yap was treated of his own portrait and proudly showed the finished art to his friends that evening.
The talented roster of artists include noted painters in their own right:
Aris Bagtas
Sam Bulaga
Allen Casacop
Emer Casacop
Jo Florendo
Lourdes Inosanto
Lawton Ladao
Raquel Molata
Bill Perez
Mischa Semana
Everyone had a glimpse of live sketching and live fashion as they enjoyed delectable treats and took home cool Freeway x Manansala memorabilia. It was a night of splendid and fun night of timeless fashion.
For more information about the collection, visit Freeway website at www.freeway.net.ph. Like Freeway on Facebook (facebook.com/FreewayOnline) and follow on Twitter (twitter.com/FreewayOnline)
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