Filipiniana Is Forever
Patis Tesoro breathes new life into Filipiniana through bold colors, maximalist details, and a mission rooted in cultural preservation and community.
Words Mian Centeno
Photos courtesy of Beyond Deadlines
December 04, 2025
Well into her seventies, the grande dame of Filipino fashion returns to the runway with Filipiniana Is Forever. Patis Tesoro proves that age has nothing on instinct, imagination, and an unwavering cultural mission. Presented with the Zonta Club of Alabang, the benefit show highlights her belief that fashion can uplift communities as powerfully as it preserves tradition.
The show opened with a picturesque group of men in patterned malongs and women in embroidered baros, setting the tone for a collection unafraid of reinvention. Tesoro followed classic Filipiniana forms, yet amplified them with vibrant color stories, youthful energy, and unexpected pairings that instantly pulled tradition into the present.
Her mastery of pattern play took center stage as checks, florals, brocades, and lattice weaves collided without overwhelming the eye. Even at its most maximalist, the collection remained grounded in her understanding of proportion, allowing each detail to feel intentional rather than indulgent.
Regal mestiza gowns were adorned with dragons in green and gold sleeves. White-worked sleeves featured flashes of crimson blooms. Tesoro’s craftsmanship felt meticulous and celebratory. The finale, a black-skirted ensemble with delicate red-thread accents, captured her instinct for balancing drama with quiet elegance.
But behind the spectacle is a mission that keeps her energy burning, ensuring Filipino textile traditions and craft communities continue to flourish. Proceeds from the show will fund women’s health, livelihood, and education—another step in a journey that began long before she revived the piña industry in the ’90s. For Tesoro, the world remains her artistic oyster.
Even with a year packed with collaboration and creative ventures, her passion doesn’t waver. Armed with sharp wit and an imagination that refuses to dim, Patis Tesoro continues to prove that heritage thrives not by standing still, but by living and evolving.
