It is strikingly akin to most basic female garments in the Southeast Asian world, and seems somehow related to the Indian sari. The Filipino wrap-around skirt called tapis or patadyong my have emerged from environmental conditions and technical repertoires similar to those that produced the sarong and the sari. As the female counterpart to the [...]
Maria Clara
admin2019-08-01T12:24:15-07:00The Maria Clara dress is an elegant formal outfit for women. It is considered a mestiza dress because it is an ensemble combining indigenous and Spanish influences. The Maria Clara dress became very popular during the Spanish era since its emergence in 1890. The name was taken from the legendary Maria Clara, the heroine of [...]
Baro’t Saya
admin2017-01-18T23:39:26-08:00The Spanish era brought about Spanish ethics, which influenced Christianized women to wear a skirt called the saya and a blouse called the baro, which was worn throughout the 400 years of colonization. The baro was of butterfly sleeves made consistently of fine fabrics and was said to have been influenced by the costume of [...]
Balintawak
admin2015-01-25T17:27:50-08:00The Balintawak is a traditional Filipino costume that has a shortened skirt, with puffy butterfly short sleeves, plaid textile, and low cut bodice and at times plenty of ornate embroidery. It was worn during picnics and other jaunts into the countryside. The balintawak was deeply associated with Antipolo, a favorite summer destination for [...]
Terno
admin2015-01-25T17:27:51-08:00In the historical account of the Filipino women's dress, the most prominent among them is the “Terno”. The terno comes from the Spanish word “to match” which was composed literally of two parts, the lower and the upper part. The Filipino terno alludes to the matching of the blouse and skirt, joined at the waist [...]
Barong Tagalog
admin2015-01-25T17:27:51-08:00In 1975, President Ferdinand E. Marcos designated the Barong Tagalog as "the national attire” and issued a decree proclaiming Barong Tagalog Week (June 5 - 11). The presidential act was meant to” focus nation-wide attention on the Filipino national dress to wider use and enhance its export potential”. Its fine needlework or hand-painted designs in [...]