This year’s Red Charity Gala raised P5.25 million as it celebrated Filipino heritage in fashion.
The Red Charity Gala 2024 once again reached a new milestone as it managed to raise a total of P5.25 million for its beneficiaries while showcasing renowned Filipino designer Lulu Tan-Gan’s farm-to-fashion philosophy that highlighted the ethereal beauty and versatility of the piña fabric.
Launched in 2009 by philanthropists Tessa Prieto and Kaye Tinga, the Red Charity Gala has been a platform for many award-winning Filipino fashion designers to exhibit their best and latest fashion collections. Past featured designers include Dennis Lustico, Furne One, Michael Cinco, Cary Santiago, Ezra Santos, Jojie Lloren, Lesley Mobo, Chito Vijandre, Joey Samson, Rajo Laurel, and Ivarluski Aseron.
Held at The Shangri-La at The Fort, the event was a celebration of Filipino fashion and heritage as Tan-Gan showed the remarkable design possibilities of the piña, creating masterpieces like boleros, caftans, jackets, capes and coats as well as blouses and dresses that are stylish, soft and easy to wear. Her collection also bridged the diverse heritage of Luzon through her use of the Kalinga print from the Ifugaos, Mandaya print from Mindanao, with the piña from Aklan.
Once known as the country’s “Queen of Knits,” Tan-Gan exhibited her expertise in the use of piña while combining her penchant for ethnic prints and patterns to promote materials and designs from the diverse heritage of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Tan-Gan is also known for promoting Filipino fashion abroad, particularly in France. From 1992 to 2005 she actively organized the participation of Philippine entries to the Concours International Des Jeunes Createurs de Mode. From 2012 to 2013, she became one of the members of the Board of Alliance Francaise de Manille where she actively collaborated with French and Filipino artists for design activities, shows and events.
In July 2003, Tan-Gan was awarded the “Chevalier D’Arts et Lettres” (Order of the Arts and Letters) by the French Minister of Culture and Communication, recognizing her significant contributions to the arts, literature or the propagation of these fields.
Before this year’s Red Charity Gala fashion show, an auction was held to raise funds for its beneficiaries, namely Hope for Lupus Foundation, Philippine Red Cross, and Assumption High School Batch 1981 Foundation.
The items for auction included beautiful art pieces from Ryan Villamael, Kim Oliveros, Catalina Africa, Carlo Tanseco, Bernardo Pacquing, and Angelito Antonio.
The highly anticipated fashion and charity gala was supported by fashion stylist Noel Manapat, Gino Gonzales as scenographer, Monino Duque as lighting designer, and Baguio-based designer Leo Aguinaldo, whose artworks added a beautiful touch to the set design. Henri Calayag and his team were in charge for hair and makeup while show direction was by Robby Carmona.
There was also a selection of luxurious vacation stays and trips from City of Dreams, The Upper House Hongkong, Island Shangri-La Hongkong, Kowloon Shangri-La Hong Kong, Shangri-La Singapore, Shangri-La Bosphorus, Istanbul, and Capetown, South Africa trips from A2A Safaris, as well as Philippine Airlines’ business class trips to Hong Kong, and Emirates business class trips to any European destinations.
For health and wellness, Centre Medicale Internationale auctioned off its Prime and Health Elite Package. In home and living, items that were auctioned included Uratex Senso Memory Frost Mattress, and Crate&Barrel items. Finally, for intricate jewelry pieces, Diagold auctioned off its Philomene 8.43 carat pair of earrings, while Jewelmer sold its exquisite 10-13mm South Sea pearl necklace.
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