19 September 2005 – The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that a prestigious fashion show, highlighting a mix of traditional Filipino wear fused with designs and concepts from other cultures made by Filipino-American fashion designer Anthony Cruz Legarda, delighted the well heeled crowd at San Francisco’s prestigious Asian Art Museum on 15 September 2005.

The high energy Arkitkenik fusion fashion show coincided with Mr. Legarda’s launching of the DVD and coffee table book of his fashion.

Consul General Maria Rowena Mendoza Sanchez congratulated the evening’s star. “Anthony is one of the up and coming Filipino-American fashion designers today,” she said. “His mix of traditional Filipino wear fused with designs and concepts from other cultures is a testament to the creativity and imagination of the Filipino people” she added.

For his part, Mr. Legarda,  who attended the prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology in New York said that “as a San Franciscan who creates and develops art, I am passionate about taking the beauty of Filipino culture and blending it with the elegance of American tradition.”

The event was able to showcase the many traditional textiles and fabrics of the Philippines together with all the intricately designed ornaments and jewelry by Mr. Legarda.  The couturier said that “when I recognize elements of Filipino American cultural heritage in everyday attire people wear in the American workplace and playground, this would be the ultimate compliment for ‘fusion fashion.”

As a bonus, the audience got to witness the creativity of Filipino master weavers Ganay Delikan and Myrna Pula of Lake Sebu and Nelia Rogano of Kalibo, Aklan who traveled all the way to San Francisco with their looms to perform weaving demonstrations for the audience at the museum. Ganay Delikan even performed on stage with her Hagalong during the fashion show.  Consul General Sanchez said that “arts and crafts such as the ones mastered by our weavers must be preserved and should be shared with the rest of the world if only to show our ancient and rich cultural heritage.”

The event was graced by various personalities from San Francisco and the Philippines including Senate President and Mrs. Franklin M. Drilon, Indonesian Consul General Raziaty Tanzil and Consul General Maria Rowena Mendoza Sanchez.  A significant number of San Francisco’s cultural elite was also in attendance in one of the largest museums in the Western world devoted exclusively to Asian arts (www.asianarts.org). END.