Pangasinan fashion highlights charms of the sea at Banaan Museum

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — Nineteen creative costumes depicting Pangasinan’s sea festivities, all created by local designers, are on display at the Banaan Museum in this capital town throughout September.

The exhibit, titled “Masanting: A Tapestry of Pangasinan Identity,” opened on Tuesday (September 8) to mark the third anniversary of the province owned museum and forms part of the celebration of Tourism Month.

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The costumes were originally intended to be worn by candidates in the Miss Pangasinan pageant in May, but the pageant was cancelled because of the fuel crisis brought about by the war on Iran. 

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In a social media post, the Pangasinan Tourism Office said: “Through fabric, form, craftsmanship, and imagination, our homegrown designers translate the many faces of Pangasinan into wearable works of art. Drawing inspiration from our landscapes, histories, traditions, and communities, each creation offers a unique perspective on what it means to be Pangasinan.”

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Masanting is Pangasinan for “beautiful.” The exhibit, the tourism office said, “presents beauty not simply as something to admire, but as something created, interpreted, and continuously reimagined.”

The 19 costume designers underwent a three-day locked-in camp, where they were mentored by well-known evening gown designers Rian Fernandez and Glenn Gonzales, both Pangasinan born. 

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“We were brought to Divisoria for a day of shopping for materials. It was only on our way there that we were given envelopes containing the themes of the costumes we were to create,” said Jeffreyson Layug, 29, of Dagupan City.

Each designer was given a budget of P7,000 for the creation, with every expense accounted for through receipts to ensure that they stayed within the allotted amount. 

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The budget went a long way for the creatives, who transformed pieces of fabric, lace, buttons and beads into elaborate, stunning  gowns.

Layug designed a Limahong-inspired gown, saying the Chinese pirate had come to Pangasinan and that many of its residents have Chinese ancestry. “That’s the history that I want to share through my gown,” he said.

Xyrill Gonzales of Binalonan town created an all-white gown called “Reina Ti Baybay” (Queen of the Sea), featuring corals, shells and pearls.

Rosales town resident Wendel Jan Mariano created a gown inspired by shipbuilding, recalling a time when Pangasinan had a thriving shipbuilding industry.

Lester Callado of Anda town created a “fusion” of the baro’t saya – the traditional Filipina dress – and various creatures of the sea.

Calasiao town’s Ronald Cruz, meanwhile, drew inspiration from festivities and the bounty of the sea, designing his gown with shining fish, shrimp and other bounties of the sea.

The other designers whose works are on display are Maynard Rovillos Antonio, Ferdinand Soriano Bactol, Edison Bergantinos, Simeon Cayetano, Thonete Nagum de Ocampo, Joseas Dimzon, John David Doria, Izer Jireh Felipe, Christian Albert Fider, Maria Fiora, Pat Herrera, Jasper Ian Mendigo, Nathaniel Bryan Motea and Henrico Sadiasa.

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Provincial Administrator Manuel Luis Jr., who represented Gov. Ramon Guico III at the fashion launch said the Masanting exhibit was an additional feature of the museum that “should be more than enough to make your precious time and effort in coming here today worthwhile.” INQ /mr