Veteran fashion designer Aureo Alonzo passes away at 85

Fashion designer Aureo Alonzo passed away at the Makati Medical Center on Monday at 9:55 a.m., his niece confirmed to GMA News Online. He was 85.

In a phone interview, Alonzo's niece Cory Unas said her uncle was diagnosed with stomach cancer late last year. His condition had been improving in the last few months, until he was admitted to the MCC on June 23 with pneumonia.

“He died peacefully, with me, my mom and my dad beside him,” Unas said. Unas' mother was Alonzo's sister.

The wake will be held starting Monday night at the Manila Memorial Chapel in Sucat, Parañaque. The interment will be on Thursday morning at the Manila Memorial Park, also in Sucat.

Alonzo, fondly called “Tatang” by friends and colleagues, was known for his haute couture gowns, commonly characterized by intricate beadworks and laces.

A Marian devotee, Alonzo also created the gowns of some of the country's famous Virgin Mary images, such as the Our Lady of La Naval at the Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception at the Manila Cathedral, the Virgin of Manaoag in Pangasinan, Our Lady of Peñafrancia in Naga City, Our Lady of Piat in Cagayan and Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage in Antipolo City.

In 1975, Alonzo won the Camel Award of International High Fashion in Italy, besting nine other finalists who were all Europeans. Alonzo is the only Filipino to win the prestigious award.

Just last year, Alonzo's friends and colleagues staged a tribute fashion show for him, “A Toast to the Prince of Philippine Haute Couture.”

Alonzo would have turned 86 on July 19. — BM, GMA News