MANILA — Ibaloi fabric, Abaca, Piña, T’nalak, Inaul, Yakan, Mindanao Silk and Pis Syabit are only some of the fabrics expected to turn heads in a Philippine tapestry fashion collection in Canada this week.
Organized by the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) and its marketing arm, the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), the fashion show will showcase the best of Filipino tapestry, including a collection of Renee Salud, an acclaimed ambassador of Philippine fashion.
The DOT said at least eight beauty queens of Filipino heritage will showcase the collection to advocate cultural awareness and national pride for the proudly locally-crafted products.
The fashion collection is the highlight of the Mabuhay Philippine Festival (MPF) 2017, a two-day event in line with the Balikbayan Program of the DOT and TPB targeting overseas Filipinos longing to come back to the Philippines and millennials eager to trace their roots.
MPF, which is organized by the Philippine Independence Day Council (PIDC), attracts the participation of various Filipino community associations and the Filipino leaders in Canada.
In each leg of the Mabuhay Philippine Festival, there will be booths to feature the country’s popular destinations targeting the North American market.
DOT Secretary Wanda Teo arrived in Toronto Aug. 23 to personally grace the fashion show, featuring indigenous textiles of the country.
During her visit, Teo is expected to meet tourism stakeholders in Canada, such as The Canadian Snowbird Association (CSA), Flight Centre Canada and the Canadian Executive Service Organization (CESO).
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and first lady Madame Sophie Grégoire Trudeau are also expected to drop by the event.
At present, Canada remains to be the country’s eighth largest tourist source market, accounting for 175,631 visitor arrivals to the Philippines in 2016, or a 12.23 percent growth rate from 2015. (Azer Parrocha /PNA)
