Philippine tropical fabrics seize the limelight in the recent Bagong Habi, Salinlahi: Cutting Edge Philippine Textiles fashion show by the Philippine Textile Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PTRI). Held at the InterContinental Hotel Manila, the fashion show featured DOST-PTRI-developed fabrics, such as water hyacinth, saluyot, maguey, piña, banana and abaca styled into classy and elegant pieces by young and talented Filipino designers. The fabrics were naturally-dyed using native plant sources. They were also enzyme-treated for comfort and a softer drape. (Photo by Henry de Leon, S&T Media Service)
Elegant, trendy and chic—these just some of the adjectives thrown at the Philippine tropical fabric (PTF) outfits modeled at the recently heldBagong Habi, Salinlahi: Cutting Edge Philippine Textiles fashion show at the InterContinental Hotel Manila. Among the audience were executives, fashion designers and stakeholders of the textile industry who were dazzled at the seeming metamorphosis of indigenous fabrics into classy, eco-friendly fashion pieces.
Spearheaded by the country’s lead textile research and development agency, the Philippine Textile Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PTRI),Bagong Habi: Salinlahilaunched fabrics made of native Philippine plants such as piña, abaca, and banana. The real revelation, meanwhile, was the introduction of newly-developed fabrics made from water hyacinth,saluyot, and maguey. All garments were dyed using natural plant sources, namely: mayana, guava, mahogany, achuete, indigo,talisay,and coconut husk.
The featured designers showcased a wide array of stylish garments created from tropical fabrics—from cocktail dresses to office uniforms, bridal pieces, and casual to formal wear for men and women. Special ethnic fabrics from different parts of the country were also incorporated in several designs to pay tribute to local craftsmanship and culture, namelyinabelof Ilocos,piñaandjusiof Aklan,hablonof Iloilo, andinaulof Maguindanao.
Department of Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo sent a quick response team yesterday to Negros Oriental to assess the damage in earthquake-affected areas. The team, headed by DOST-Phivolcs Chief Mariton Bornas and Senior Science Specialist Mabel Abigania, is composed of geologists, seismologists and information staff from the DOST- Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-Phivolcs). They arrived in Dumaguete City yesterday afternoon and will proceed to the Tayasan and Libertad areas in Negros Oriental to immediately conduct post-earthquake assessment.
The team will evaluate the extent of damage around the Negros-Cebu area, particularly the hazards caused by the earthquake such as landslides, liquefaction, ground rupture, tsunami and other developments in the areas near the epicenter. The team will also install instruments in gathering intensity reports to determine the strength of ground shaking in various areas.
Also, the team will use portable seismic monitoring equipment to accurately identify the position of the epicenter of the aftershocks, and identify and locate the fault plain that caused the main shock. The experts will likewise document the condition in the areas around the epicenter through pictures and video to help them better understand and study the incident.
Meanwhile, the information team will conduct on-site lectures on what to do during and after an earthquake and distribute information materials on earthquake and other hazards.
“We assure our countrymen, especially those in the earthquake-damaged areas, that DOST-Phivolcs is doing its best to monitor all events related to the Cebu-Negros earthquake,” Sec. Montejo stated. “We are doing this to deepen our own knowledge of what happened and continually provide our people with the relevant information they need to understand this earthquake event and how to cope with its effects.”
