THEY are under the spotlight, or prefer to stay under the radar, or just refuse to take the credit due them.
These men are the newsmakers for the year and much deserving of the Apples Award.
rEmi Englis, PWC Asst. Program Dean for Fine Arts and Interior Design and designer.
If a designer can be canonized to sainthood, Emi Englis will be the first on line. He made teaching an advocacy and he is passionate about imparting knowledge—even the recent one he’s learned— to his students (and peers) while drawing out the undiscovered intrinsic talent from within them.
He is involved in several projects at a time, all of which seeking to develop skills—product development with Mindanao Trade exposition and Department of Trade and Industries for local artisans, mentoring young designers to create globally competitive goods, accrediting schools offering Fine Arts, Interior Design and Architecture with PAASCU.
As part of the academe, he spearheaded a project— Artisanal Heritage Studies and Creative Enterprise Center, which was granted a five million pesos funding for PWC, one of the 50 schools in the country. The school also inked a partnership with NCAA to help mainstream traditional communities develop various skills for dressmaking and product design.
With his fashion group DFDC, Englis “co-facilitated” the linkage and networking of the group with government agencies CITEM and DTI and the indigenous community. This is part of his belief in empowerment—to enlarge everyone’s perspective outside of the designing.
rEdgar Buyan, designer.
Why are fashionistas lured to this designer’s atelier? Because during fashion shows Buyan never ceases to surprise the audience with his wit and creativity in design.
In this year’s Mindanao-themed runway presentation, Buyan unleashed a collection that’s so brilliant—colorful, modern, young and most importantly, wearable. The set was cohesive, well styled and edited, and yes, very attractive. These are Buyan’s strengths.
The piece de resistance was the digital printing of an indigenous woman’s face on the fabric. Buyan developed this into another collection presented in a recent MTE Holiday trade fair.
His mainstream designs are as good, although expect a touch of surprise to perk up the overall look. This is Buyan’s touch.
rWilson Limon, designer.
Even before parading his winning entry in the first Stellar: Rising Fashion Star, Wilson Limon has already toyed with digital printing. He lifts patterns from the hand woven fabrics of the Davao tribes and prints it on his pieces. The look: young, modern, wearable pieces with a hint of Mindanao attitude. This was the concept he entered in the competition that won him the top prize.
This year, Limon was tapped by a clothes brand to come up with a collection based on this concept.
The designer recently opened his new atelier and concentrate on his bespoke pieces while producing Mindanao RTW pieces on the side. Believe it or not, this man is instrumental in putting forward, if not reviving, the handiworks of the local tribeswomen. They have been busy this year and will have a busier time in the years to come.
Yes, he has a lot to learn but time is on his side. He is still young.
rArnold Alvarez, events director.
I’ve seen this man grow from a ballroom dancing instructor to the director he is today.
Thanks to dancing he was able to create Siningtala Dance Company. The troupe performs different genres and has danced for audiences at corporate and hotel events to name a couple. From part being part of the production, he then took the lead and started directing.
Perhaps the most successful engagement to date was the Miss Universe beauty pageant leg in Davao. It established his contact with the DOT and Renee Salud. From then on, Alvarez and his team has traveled to different parts of the country and abroad to perform.
rJade Polizon, events decorator for Cameo Events.
My first encounter with a Polizon design was a major event for Marco Polo Davao. Using inexpensive material, he managed to turn the ballroom into a surreal, elegant and classy venue.
After graduating from his HRM course in PWC, he dabbled in events decorating for a couple of years before leaving for abroad. In his five-year stint in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, he worked for three companies and decided to head back home to set up Came Events.
According to a former professor, he is passionate about his craft and driven. He is out to better himself that’s why he regularly travels abroad for exposure and to study as well. He is currently in the UK for taking a flower arrangement course at Judith Blacklock Flower School.
Expect more exciting ideas from this young decorator of Cameo Events and Cameo Luxe.
rCarlo Lorenzana, businessman.
He is this year’s best-dressed gentleman.
Under his wing are several business ventures dealing with food and wine. Hosting food events is part of the job and this man is an ideal host—engaging, polite, attentive and dressed to the occasion. Those who know this man will agree with me.
*****
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