A fashion and film spectacle in Bacolod

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Hitting two birds in one stone, I flew to Bacolod last month to be a juror of the sixth Margaha Film Festival in Sagay and to check one of the finest regional art centers, The Negros Museum, where runs the exhibition A Life of Fashion and Fashion for Life: A Patis Tesoro Retrospective.

THE POWER OF FILM Winners and organizers of the 6th Margaha Film Festival

SineMargaha focuses on showcasing both tangible and intangible cultural heritage through grassroots cinema. This festival is a flagship program of the City Government of Sagay. It took us one and a half hours from the city to reach the Margaha Beach in Barangay Old Sagay City. The themes of the shorts include mysticism, traditions, and life at sea. 

There were 18 competing short films comprising the Philippine Shorts and SineMargaha Shorts.

MEET YOUR JUDGES Jurors of the SineMargaha

The SineMargaha Philippine Shorts Jury Prize went to Aklan’s Anjo Salmorin and his work Sino Nagaeog-Gaeog sa Eugan-Eugan? and Nabunturan, Davao de Oro’s Juvy Ann Clarito and her work Sa Ilalum sa Balabal sa Alitaptap. These two short films, according to the jury, “show visions that are singular and compelling, which, when measured against the winning film, remain representative of the kind of filmmaking present in the periphery or among the regional cinemas.”

Davao’s Jermaine Tulbo directed A Crab from a Conch Shell, which won the SineMargaha Best Philippine Short Film. Grief from the point of view of a young girl gives this poetic narrative a much-needed grasp on how to deal with the loss of a parent, heartbreaking and thoughtful.

The SineMargaha Jury Prize was awarded to Mery Grace Rama-Mission for her work, Walo-Walo ka Adlaw nga Kanay, Walo ka Adlaw nga Labugay, which also earned her the Best Director award. The short drama explores a fishing family’s journey as the father, whose wife is pregnant, gets lost at sea.

The SineMargaha Best Short Film goes to Seb Valdez’s Si Sir kag ang Gamay na Bata. A kapre and a child become buddies and the former becomes the latter’s mentor. They meet the community whose members they whip up extraordinary ways to frighten. The film questions who is scarier—human beings or elementals? 

The sixth Margaha Film Festival encourages collaboration, creativity, and artistic expression among the people of Sagay City and Filipino artists who have participated in the festival.

The jurors include actress Chai Fonancier, filmmakers Elvert Banares and Alex Poblete, academe Jag Garcia, film critic Tito Valiente, NCCA’s Butch Ibañez, locals Kenneth Rivera and Rod Florentino, and Negros Museum executive director Tanya Lopez.

Patis Tesoro

To celebrate its 28th anniversary, the Negros Museum showcases A Life of Fashion and Fashion for Life: A Patis Tesoro Retrospective.

I spent my high school days in the homes of Tita Patis, born Maria Beatriz Pamintuan, on Wilson Street in Greenhills and in Putol in San Pablo, Laguna. Her daughter, Nina, was a childhood friend of mine. I witnessed her artistry at her prime in creating woven piña embroidery and the use of natural dyes in her masterpieces.

A LOOK BACK Patis and Tito Tesoro

When I learned from Tanya Lopez that Tita Patis was having lunch with Lyn Gamboa, president of the Negros Cultural Foundation and the Negros Museum, I made sure to check out the exhibit.

TIMELESS ATTIRE Traditional Filipiniana outfits

On display were classics as well as modern Filipiniana. The museum also gave us details of her life story from the Pamintuan and Tesoro lineage. “I still miss Tito,” confesses the designer. Her lawyer-husband had been the rock of the family before he passed away in 2016.

The exhibit boasts of her traditional baro’t saya, embroidered gowns and eclectic innovations of barong tagalog. Limited editions of Barbie dolls by Patis Tesoro are also displayed.

FILIPINIANA IS FOREVER Barbie dolls wearing Patis Tesoro creations

At 74, despite her health issues, Patis continues to travel to different regions to promote the preservation and revival of the local piña fabric. Her love for Filipino traditions, arts, and culture, expressed through local weaving and the use of natural textiles, makes her one of the iconic figures in the fashion industry.

As she always says, “Filipiniana is forever.” The exhibit runs until April. Call 4334764 or 09171506334.