One of the icons of class and glamor in the Philippines, Margarita “Tingting” Cojuangco, named her 10 Elegant Filipinas for this year. For her, this batch of women “wear(s) the right wardrobe for the correct occasion.”
At the recent “Tingting’s List: The Elegant Filipina” held at Diamond Hotel, the philanthropist and Manila’s best dressed hall of fame recipient bestowed upon Felicia Atienza, Marilu Batchelor, Marissa Concepcion, Michelle Tan, Mariquita Yeung, Karen Davila, Stephanie Gonzales, Pamela Huang, Vanessa Suatengco and Dawn Zulueta the tag of “Elegant Filipina” and awarded each of them the Leaf of Elegance by jewelry designer Arnel Papa.
“[The 2016’s Elegant Filipinas] wear the creation, the creation does not wear them,” Cojuangco told Manila Standard when asked to describe this year’s roster of women who made it on her list.
For Cojuangco, elegance in the Philippines is, and should be, relevant despite the changing of times and the day of ‘micro-mini shorts.’
“Everybody does want to be elegant, the problem is that we have to revive this elegance because it makes us very distinct people,” she shared, further pointing out that “despite ‘short shorts’ and copying of other cultures, we Filipinos can look the best we can.”
In her opening speech, which was heard by her over 350 by-invitation-only guests, Cojuangco defined elegance as “precision.” Aside from wearing the right dress for the right occasion, she said being elegant is speaking with a modulated voice and right vocabulary.
“Elegance can be expensive and elegance need not be expensive,” she averred.
The 10 Elegant Filipinas were chosen by this year’s panel of “Tingting’s List” composed of Honorary Consul of Monaco Fortune Ledesma, fashion entrepreneur Tina Ocampo, Tattler managing editor Chit Lijauco, designer Albert Andrada and Cojuangco herself.
The panel chose the awardees based on their definition of elegance which is “The woman who unwittingly is at the center of attention, knows the language of fashion, possesses beauty, is refined and cultured, commands respect in her chosen field, and leaves a legacy of grace, wisdom and compassion.”
During the ceremony, Andrada showcased his 20-piece high fashion collection composed of bridal wear, gowns, cocktail dresses and formal menswear.
Proceeds from the affair benefit the widows and children of the Special Action Force (SAF) 44.
“This year I’m giving [the funds] to the widows of SAF and the children who want notebooks, pencils… I want to make it yearly for them, for their heroism to be remembered,” shared Cojuangco.
She added “I am thinking of doing ‘The Elegant Filipina’ again next year for the benefit of SAF women.”
Photos by Sonny Espiritu