PHILIPPINE bet Catriona Gray slayed the stage of Miss Universe 2018 in her national costume.
The event was held at the Nong Nooch International Convention Center in Pattaya, Thailand, on Monday night, Dec. 10.
Apparently, every detail on her suit, headdress, massive backdrop, including her boots, has a meaning.
Her mentor Carlos Buendia Jr. and fashion designer Jearson Demavivas referred to it as “LuzViMinda” – which represented the three major island groups in the Philippines namely Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
It also followed the theme “Magdiwang, Lumaban, Pagyamanin.”
In a series of Instagram stories, Carlos revealed how the three islands were depicted on Catriona’s costume.
“The island group of Luzon is represented by the world-renowned ‘PAROL/christmas lantern’ from the province of Pampanga with an aluminum border (designed and made in Floridablanca, Pampanga – the home of the Pinukpuk/aluminum).”
“The BORDER’S design is inspired by designs from the Philippine Baroque Churches that were declared as UNESCO Heritage Sites.”
According to an Instagram post by Jearson, the Parol was made by Eric Quiwa, an artisan from Floriblanca, Pampanga.
The edge of the parol bore an inscription written in Baybayin, a Tagalog script. It lifted lines from “Lupang Hinirang,” the national anthem of the Philippines.
Carlos and several students from the University of the Philippines also painted iconic events, personalities, and locations on the back side of the parol.
Jearson, meanwhile, made the Pintados-inspired body suit.
“The tattoo patterns are authentic and based from the manuscript ‘BOXER CODEX’ written in 1950,” Carlos wrote. (Pep.ph)
