After a three-year hiatus, Bench TernoCon&rsquo;s third edition arrived with added flair.&nbsp;

The fashion design convention is once more championing Filipino artistry through the quintessential Filipiniana piece &ndash; the Balintawak, an ensemble worn through fiestas and pilgrimages. Sometimes referred to as the rural counterpart of a traditional terno, the Balintawak is distinguishable by its alampay (a soft kerchief) and tapiz&nbsp;(a strip of cloth wrapped around the waist).&nbsp;

Terno Balintawak was chosen by the TernoCon artistic director Gino Gonzales, who thought the &ldquo;less ostentatious&rdquo; option was fitting for the times. Showcasing their take on the Balintawak, the designs of 12 finalists reigned from different regions of the country. Geom Hernandez, Dee Javier, and Yssa Inumerable represented the NCR, while Amor Albano, Bon Hansen Reyes, Gabbie Sarenas, and Glyn Alley Magtibay represented the larger region of Luzon. Contestants Al Rey Rosano, Bree Esplanada, Karl Nadales, and Marc Carcillar represented Visayas while Glady Rose Pantua represented Mindanao. After months of workshops and collaboration with their mentors, each designer revealed two looks during the culminating show. Here&rsquo;s every look from the third edition of TernoCon.

<h3 style="text-align: justify;">Al Rey Rosano</h3>
Coming from Negros Oriental, Al Rey Rosano&rsquo;s collection captures the sunsets of Santa Catalina. Taking from the imagery of sun rays, Rosano used techniques such as micro pleating and ruching.&nbsp;

<h3>Amor Albano</h3>
Taking inspiration from the wrappers of pastillas, a Filipino delicacy, Amor Albano was awarded the Chief Mentor&rsquo;s Medal. The Ilocos-based designer used light material for the collection to evoke ease and airiness. These two creations reference imagery of the countryside or bukid, and the Philippine national flower, the Sampaguita.

<h3>Bon Hansen Reyes</h3>
Fashion Institute of the Philippines graduate Bon Hansen Reyes infused his background in menswear and tailoring with the features of the Balintawak. The Rizal-based designer took traditionally feminine garments and infused masculine elements, resulting in a more genderless collection.

<h3 style="text-align: justify;">Bree Esplanada</h3>
The aswang and the tikbalang, two characters from Philippine folklore, served as inspiration for Bree Esplananda's creations. Hailing from Cebu, Esplanada hand-illustrated some of the design's final details to give the typically grim creatures a youthful touch.&nbsp;

<h3>Dee Javier&nbsp;</h3>
Telling the story of love and loss within his two creations, Dee Javier infused embroidery from love letters and lines in the Filipino classic Florante at Laura by Francisco Balagtas. In keeping with the values of TernoCon, the Manila-based designer decides to leave a message &mdash;&nbsp;saying&nbsp;we can learn from our past and use it to create something new.

<h3>Geom Hernandez</h3>
Geom Hernandez took inspiration from fabrics and played with silhouettes. The Batangas-based designer showcased a&nbsp;terno&nbsp;that was destined for every size, shape, and style.&nbsp;

<h3 style="text-align: justify;">Glyn Alley Magtibay </h3>
The most modern collection of Balintawak was created by Oriental Mindoro-born designer Glyn Alley Magtibay. She experimented with various techniques to make the X-rays wearable, with the hopes of inspiring a new generation of creatives to think outside the box and give new meaning to objects that might otherwise be discarded as waste.

<h3>Karl Nadales</h3>
As an Iloilo native, Karl Nadales toom inspiration from the bagladies he would see back home.&nbsp;The designer deconstructed the Balintawak&nbsp;and made use of scrap fabrics and found objects as embellishments.

<h3>Marc Cacillar </h3>
Marc Cacillar took inspiration from his own experiences as a creative. His collection showcased the essential elements of Balintawak,&nbsp;the tapiz and alampay. As a way to highlight their significance and importance, the Iloilo-based designer decided to take inspiration from the hardships of those that often go unseen in the creative industry.

Gladys Rose Pantua took home the third prize for her collection, which features the Yakan cloth from her province, Zamboanga. She hopes to show the world that these local weaves can also be turned into a Balintawak, emphasizing the diversity of Filipino culture.

<h3>Gabbie Sarenas&nbsp;</h3>
Gabbie Sarenas, a native of Taytay, Rizal, claims that she began the challenge by breaking down what exactly makes up the Balintawak. Sarenas, who is well known for her love of multifunctional clothing, created two ensembles with transformative components. Second place was awarded to her collection, which she refers to as a "love letter to the Philippines."

<h3>Yssa Inumerable </h3>
Yssa Inumerable took home this year&rsquo;s first prize. Taking inspiration from classic Gibson girls illustrations and late 1800s sportswear, the Para&ntilde;aque native reimagined these historical silhouettes using locally sourced fabrics.

Among the twelve finalists, Yssa Inumerable was crowned the winner of TernoCon. She&nbsp;received the newly titled Pacita Longos award for her interpretation of the Balintawak. Gabbie Sarenas was this year&rsquo;s runner-up taking home the Pura Escurdia award, with Glady Rose Pantua receiving the Ramon Valera award for third place.&nbsp;

These Filipino Designers’ Balintawak Creations Championed the Third TernoCon

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