APCO’s FREEDOM BALL BURSTS IN FASHION FLAIR

By: Marilie Bomediano -Eftekharhashtroudi
Lidcombe-NSW-Australia
July 17, 2015



This year’s momentous celebration of APCO Freedom Ball, in hitherto was a reflection of fashion show heritage display and traditional tribal dances  with an ambience  filled with gentlemen in crisp colorful jusi and pure piña barongs and ladies in hispanic ternos  or tribal costumes last June 13 at Dooley’s Lidcombe Catholic Club.




Indeed it was an evening charmed by lakambinis, the model beauty titlists Melanie Balagtas, Joanna Cubelo, Darlene Macabulos, Mary Ubay, actress Daniella Serret and songstresses Annie Marquez, Sidney Perez and Gabby Escubio.

Javellana gave the audience his interpretation of the modern terno with its distinctive unique butterfly sleeves, with four interpretations shown on the night as worn by beauty queen Melanie Balagtas, with the evening’s co-host,  journalist Michelle Baltazar

As emcee Marcus Rivera slowly read Jose Rizal’s Canto de Maria Clara, a Noli Me Tangere patriotic poetry in tagalog, as  Pitoy Moreno’s protégé Jenny Austin of Fashion Parté, walked in with a Maria Clara bridal backless gown with veil and intricate lace trimmings, the finale masterpiece.

This dress took takes its name from Maria Clara,  the mestiza protagonist of the national epic Noli me Tangere  penned in 1890 by Filipino national hero José Rizal was modelled by accompanied by a Maria Clara dress by flower girl by Oolan Margon through the bandurria and spanish guitar music of Prof. Joven Estigoy.

Other entertainment highlights were: vocalist Ms. Roanne Monte, who played the lead role in the Miss Saigon in London, singer-dancer Sidney Perez backed by the dynamic VSD Dancerz led by Victor Valdez, entertained the guests. Two vocalists: singer-actor Marcus Rivera and soprano soloist Linda Trinidad also sung some traditional Kundiman songs.

The Ethnic Dance-Fashion Show followed jointly performed by the Mindanao Ethnographic Dance Group and the VSD Dancerz showcased Emma Braceros’ collections of authentic and colourful costumes of the various tribes in Mindanao later followed by the  Best Filipiniana and Barong Competition, adjudicated by fashion designer Claudio Javellana.

Organised by the Alliance of Philippine Community Organisations Inc. (APCO), spearheaded by President Ruben Amores, directed by Albert Prias and Charles Chan with this year’s theme “Isulong Ang Kapayapaan Batay Sa Katarungan” (Promote Peace Founded on Justice).

The Re-Groove duo band rhythm provided the dance music for the rest of the  evening  after the raffle