Jor-el Espina Celebrates 20th Anniversary With Benefit Gala Show

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of his entry into the fashion industry, esteemed designer Jor-el Espina partnered with Philippine Finance & Inter-Industry Pride (PFIP) to mount a benefit gala showcase of his new designs, with proceeds of the show helping the programs of the PFIP. 

20 Design Anthologies debuted over sixty new designs during the runway show at the Grand Ballroom of Shangri-La The Fort, getting an awed and reverent response from the community regarding the cutting-edge showcase of his work to the public. This was his biggest show yet, and it portrayed a comprehensive display of his design hallmarks, from the past and present, while hinting at a broader future to come for the designer.

Building A Stronger Community

For 20 Design Anthologies, the proceeds of the event went to the Bahaghari Rainbow Youth Academy Scholarship Program, which provides opportunities to LGBTQ+ individuals to be able to access higher education and help them enter different industries without discrimination. 

Before the 20 Design Anthologies runway show, the PFIP awarded different corporations and organizations for their commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion in the workplace. Winners of the award include the Accenture PH Pride Network, information technology company Innodate, and ING Group Hubs. Karen David, who was also in attendance, also won Ally of the Year. 

In his opening speech, PFIP chairperson Gelo Camaya asserted the continued importance of diversity practices in corporations, ensuring equal opportunity to LGBTQ+ individuals in being able to enter the workforce and have meaningful careers within the corporate community. 

“Every time someone walks into their workplace and feels they can finally be themselves, that’s PFIP’s impact,” they said. “Every time a company stands for its values of equality and belonging, [they do] it with a community we’ve built together.”

Jor-el Espina Crafts A Legacy

The actual 20 Design Anthologies was a spectacle to behold. Eschewing the modernization of the Filipiniana dresses he is most well-known for, Jor-el Espina expanded his own barriers, pushing for a colorful, maximalist showcase of design. The clothing here had provocative edges, unconventional geometry, and an eye-popping use of palette that really pushed the envelope to how provocative couture could be.  

Espina saw the event as a way of giving back to the LGBTQ+ community, something that will allow more people to be able to live out their truth free of discrimination from the public. Camaya, meanwhile, pointed at Espina as an example of how queer individuals can build a fruitful career within the country.  

“Jor-el’s journey is one of triumph over challenges, of authenticity over conformity, of faith over fear,” they said. “From his humble beginnings to become one of the country’s most celebrated designers, Jor-el has remained true to himself—using his craft to become stories for identity, strength, and pride. 

“His collaboration with PFIP and support for the Rainbow Youth Academy remind us that advocacy takes many forms, and that’s when passion meets purpose, and transformation [meets] happiness. Jor-el’s story is not just inspiring. It’s a reflection of what PFIP stands for: empowering others to rise, to lead, and to live with pride.”

Read More: Jor-el Espina Debuts New Collection for Artefino 2025 Inspired by Patis Tesoro

On Breakthroughs: Architect Pierre Briones on Establishing His Name in Architecture 

Breaking through in their respective careers is a daunting task for any young professional. For Architect Pierre Briones, architecture has always been an intentional pursuit. Having spent much of his childhood around construction sites, Briones’s environment shaped his interest in architecture, including his fascination with how structures and buildings are built. “Choosing architecture was never […]

Bobby Mañosa’s Iconic ‘Bobi Toys’ Become Sculptures in ‘Tanaw’ 

Not many people know this, but during the Martial Law era, National Artist for Architecture Bobby Mañosa was also a toy designer. He had an iconic line of toys, called “Bobi Toys,” that he sold in Makati during the 1970s and 1980s, which he discontinued as his own kids grew older. His toys have not […]

Advertisement

‘Dialogo’: Two Artists Collaborative and Find Middle Ground in New Exhibit

Cloud Grey Gallery put together two esteemed artists, Manuel Ocampo and Ronald Ventura, for Dialogo. As a gallery located at the Grand Hyatt Manila, Cloud Grey has a more forward-thinking approach to contemporary art movements at the time. “They’re provocations,” the gallery declared as they described their approach, “invitations to see the familiar transformed.” For […]

‘Ivarluski x Bitagcol’ Opens New Pop-Up at Power Plant Mall

Ivarluski x Bitagcol, a pop-up store at Power Plant Mall, showcases the new collaborative fashion line from the two Filipino designers, as they seek to expand their design horizons and update their aesthetic hallmarks for the present day.   The collaboration came about as the two designers, Ivarluski Aseron and Jo Ann Bitagcol, discussed their attraction […]

Komiket and the Evolution of Art Markets over the Decade

As the country’s local arts community grows steadily beyond the confines of galleries and museums, art markets have become a booming market for young artists and old artists alike. A variety of crafts, whether it’s fabric works or paintings or prints or whatnot, have become the new way of showcasing new, personal styles for a […]