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Filipino designers win big at Precious of Malaysia fashion week 2025
Filipino creativity took the spotlight in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia as six Filipino designers emerged victorious at the Precious of Malaysia International Cultural Fashion Week, a prestigious showcase of Asian culture and identity.
Russ Cuevas from Pasig City bagged the event's top honor, followed by Jeremiah Gazo from Bago City as first runner-up, and four kababayans who similarly highlighted modern Filipino artistry with Philippine indigenous textiles.
Leading the Philippine delegation was Dong Omaga-Diaz, its national director for the event who guided the Philippine team from the selection process up to the international runway.
The list of Filipino designers who brought honor to the country are:
- Winner — Russ Cuevas from Pasig City
- First Runner Up — Jeremiah Gazo from Bago City
- Global Cultural Inspiration — Tresh Verne Asis from Misamis Oriental
- Excellent Inspiring Design — Gil Macaibay III from Cagayan de Oro
- Best Collection — Steve Genzola from Silay City
- Uplifting Traditional Design — Ushi Sato from North Cotabato
For Omaga-Diaz, seeing the designers' collections onstage was already a triumph. The awards that followed, however, brought Omaga-Diaz an even higher reward.
"It was an overwhelming experience for me. This set of designers were qualifiers from applicants all over the nation. They were chosen for their merits in both work and attitude. I conducted a three-day workshop to help them develop their collections, and seeing their pieces shine onstage was already a triumph. When they were awarded, it was not just victory—it was fulfillment," he told GMA News Online in an interview.
Stage for Asian identity
The Precious of Malaysia Cultural Fashion Week is more than just a fashion show—it is a cultural platform. According to Omaga-Diaz, the event celebrates Asia's diverse heritage while pushing fashion forward.
Omaga-Diaz said, "The Precious of Malaysia Cultural Fashion Week aims to put a spotlight on Asian culture. It aims to preserve tradition and our identity as Asians. At the same time, it recognizes that our local wear is fashion—therefore it must go forward."
For Filipino designers, it was an opportunity to showcase identity in a global context, balancing tradition and modernity without becoming "costumey."
Omaga-Diaz stressed the importance of wearability and storytelling in their creations.
"Their collection should be wearable, and it is important that they be able to say their fashion story with the viewers understanding it without having to explain. Designs must be forward, without surpassing tradition."
Winning edge
Cuevas, who earned the highest recognition of the competition, submitted his collection titled, Paz at Igme.
With a creative concept drawn from local Pasig folklore, Cuevas fused denim with piña fabric, and combined modern and traditional materials into sleek, cohesive silhouettes.
"The discipline in the use of lines and mix of details were observed to perfection," Omaga-Diaz shared.
"It resulted in a collection that was clean and cohesive."
However, Cuevas' triumph was not without suspense as the final recognition of the night remained unannounced until the nail-biting finish.
"Russ was almost giving up," Omaga-Diaz recalled. "I was praying hard that he would not end up without any award. It was a real blast and relief when his name was called as the Grand Prize winner."
Along with Cuevas, every member of the Philippine delegation took home honors. This serves as proof, Omaga-Diaz said, of their unity and shared pursuit.
"From the start, I told them my aim was for them to produce pieces that would not put the nation's name to shame. Winning would just be a bonus. Their unity was their edge—it showed what being Filipino is all about," he noted.
Stories of grit and destiny
The triumph was made more meaningful by the designers' personal journeys behind their collections.
Tresh Verne Asis from Misamis Oriental, who had been undergoing medical treatment during her application, was initially a replacement for another designer who backed out. Yet she went on to win an award, which Omaga-Diaz described as destiny.
Meanwhile, Jeremiah Gazo of Negros Occidental faced his own hurdle at immigration, where he was questioned for 45 minutes before being allowed to fly to Kuala Lumpur. It was his first trip abroad, and he went on to win first runner-up.
Such stories, Omaga-Diaz said, embody the resilience and determination of Filipino designers who dream of making their mark internationally.
Beyond the runway
For Omaga-Diaz, who once won the Grand Lesage Prize at the International Young Designers Competition in Paris (1999), this collective triumph is both inspiration and a call to action for the next generation of Filipino creatives.
"We're hoping they be proud and find inspiration in our story. I asked them to enjoy their 15 minutes of walking into the clouds—with their feet on the ground. One day, perhaps they can help someone else's dream come true. I was once a dreamer myself," he shared.
As the designers savor their wins, new opportunities are opening on the global stage. For now, their victory at Precious of Malaysia Cultural Fashion Week 2025 affirms what Omaga-Diaz has long believed: Filipino fashion, rooted in culture and identity, belongs to the world. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
