The Ilonggos were allured by the Filipiniana collection, a distinctively Patis Tesoro creation in “Filipiniana is Forever: The Unraveling of Culture and Couture,” at the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art (ILOMOCA) on October 11, 2025.

Tesoro is credited with elevating Filipino clothing into a living expression of national identity. Through exquisite craftsmanship and rich materials like piña, jusi, and abacá, she redefined traditional Filipino dress as both a cultural symbol and wearable art, celebrating its enduring beauty and pride of place. 

The collection transported the audience back to an age of opulence and timeless style. A veritable who’s who of Iloilo and Philippine society: luminaries, tastemakers, and cultural icons arrived dressed in their finest interpretations of modern Filipiniana, expressing reverence, unmistakable glamour, and bearing witness to Tesoro’s masterful celebration of heritage and handcraft.

Against a backdrop of handwoven indigenous textiles, Filipiniana is Forever unfolded like a living archive, with each piece telling a story of identity, tradition, and enduring elegance.

High-spirited and with an infectious laugh at 75, Patis Tesoro remains youthful in energy, a spirit rooted in a lifelong love for embellishment and design. She recalls being enamored with beadwork and embroidery as early as age six, reflecting on her time at Assumption Iloilo, where nuns taught traditional needlework.

“I found joy and skill in embroidery early on,” she shared, a craft that would later shape her design identity and highlight the rich, intricate artistry at the heart of Filipino style.

Also read: Echoes of Tradition in Patis Tesoro and Ronald Asido sculptures

Long before the global fashion world turned its gaze toward cultural revival and sustainable design, Tesoro was already there — championing handwoven textiles, uplifting local artisans, and transforming the Filipiniana from a colonial relic into a symbol of elegance and identity.

The embroidery stitch and embellishments in her collection captured the evening’s attention, reaffirming her place not just as a designer, but as a cultural custodian whose work continues to shape the Filipino sartorial legacy.

Distinctively Patis Tesoro  creations are highlighted by ornate embroidery and embellishments.

The evening served as a tribute to Tesoro’s singular vision, with a powerful show of contemporary Filipiniana creations by the members of the Designers Guild of Iloilo: Jake Peñalosa, Doddie Vril Tan, Aisha Peñalosa, D John Clement, Regine Espinosa, Sidney Eculla, Tata Blas Pinuela, Yepyep Mesina, Edison Sy, Hector Totong Gellangarin — capped by a showcase of Tesoro’s own recent work.