By JINGGOY I. SALVADOR

Archipelago, a fundraising event, gathers designers from across the country: Renee Salud from Luzon, Jun Escario from Cebu in the Visayas, and Mary Ann Montemayor of Kaayo Modern Mindanao and Emil Sitjar of Emilia Sitjar Jewelry from Davao in Mindanao.

Here, designers skillfully shaped their materials of choice to create timeless, wearable pieces with styles they could each call their own.

From purple to tangerine to a bride in periwinkle, a stream of colors flowed on the runway with Renee Salud’s collection, with Thai silk as the unifying material. In typical Salud style, billowing ensembles marked the finale.

Eye-catching from Jun Escario’s collection were his minimalist pieces. In tones of cream, black. and white, the column dresses and flowing, empire cut gowns, a few numbers with a sprinkling of embellishments, were chic, stylish, and elegant.

Kaayo Modern Mindanao has successfully injected Mindanao tradition into mainstream fashion. Either blending a mix of weaves in an array of colors to create a look for the modern Filipina or jazzing up contemporary fashion with cultural details, the aspiration of Kaayo duo, Mary Ann Montemayor and Marga Montemayor-Nograles, for Mindanao was witnessed on the runway.

Designed by Emil Sitjar and handcrafted by Filipino artisans, the Filipinoiserie collection of Emilia Sitjar Jewelry was striking and elegant. Each set was especially curated to match the personalities and lifestyle of their muses: the Honorary Consul of Bangladesh to Mindanao, Joji Ilagan-Bian, businesswomen Gemma Velez, Malouchi Gahol , Marissa Tionko, Elizabeth Unlay, Sholai Lim, and Shane Lim, former beauty queen Wendy Gonzales, and young Thai nationals Sophia and Sonia Sitjar. Collaborating with Sitjar was Davao designer Edgar Buyan, who executed a sophisticated gem-toned evening ensemble that perfectly complemented the jeweler’s vision.

Beyond the glitz and glamor is the main purpose of the event. Archipelago is Dusit Hotel’s second installment of its fundraising programs. The event’s beneficiary are the SOS Children’s Village Davao and Field of Dreams Children’s Charity Foundation.

Seen at the affair were Margie Moran-Floirendo, the grand dame of Davao fine jewelry Emilia Sitjar, honorary consul of Italy to Davao Raffy del Rosario with Carmina Mapa-del Rosario, hoteliers and restaurateurs Neneng Dela Paz, Vivian Sison, and Lena Benedicto, and real estate bigwigs Pep-c Velez, Louie Gahol, Toffee Tionko, Nena Hizon-Daluz, Jes Reta, and Bebot Estanislao.

The Archipelago charity show was presented by Dusit Davao and co-presented by Torre de Lorenzo and Emilia Sitjar Jewelry.