BEST DRESSED FOR A CAUSE

It was a night of glitz and glamor, where Manila’s well-heeled set stepped out in their finery in support of a great cause at The Best Dressed Women of the Philippines (BDWP) Gala Night. The Grand Ballroom of The Shangri-la The Fort had a celebratory air to it as the guests walked in, eager not only for a night of fun, but also for a chance to make positive change.

The festivities began as RJ Ledesma, the evening’s master of ceremonies, called in BDWP chairperson, Honorary Consul of Angola to the Philippines Helen Ong, to officially welcome guests to the event. In her speech, she spoke of how the event had grown since it first began over two decades ago. The testament to the work that the team behind BDWP has been doing is the combined donation of over P200 million to the Philippine Cancer Society, which includes P23 million last year alone. Afterwards, Ledesma presented the ladies who made this year’s illustrious Best Dressed Women and Men of Influence 2024 List — from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao — in a very special runway show. This year’s honorees included the likes of Rosemarie Bosch, Dr. Elsie Pascua, Anna Orlina, Ces Rodriguez, Dr. Liza Quirolgico, Antonette Gutierrez, Michelle Takijima, Ces Miranda, Jill Tan, Dr. Maricar Threadgill, Doyee Tumpalan, and Ina Sarosa. Plaques of Recognition were also handed out to the recipients of the Dr. Robert Paterno Awards, such as Jerika Ejercito, and French Baker’s Johnlu G. Koa, who was represented by his son Jonard.

A highlight of the evening was the live auction of highly-covetable artworks by two renowned Filipino artists. And the bids came in hot and fast, as guests generously opened their checkbooks, not only to bring home a rare piece of art, but also to contribute to a powerful advocacy. First up was photographic art by Philip Dizon, which had a starting bid of P130,000 but it hit more than double by the time the auction gavel came down. Glass sculptor Ramon Orlina created a new piece especially for the BDWP auction, and the paddles were shooting up in the air, with the lucky bidder topping P3 million!

Among the guests during the BDWP Gala Night were members of the diplomatic community, top business leaders, and members of Manila’s high society.

With a disease like cancer affecting so many lives, there is an urgent need for greater research and innovation. In 2022, it was shown to be the second leading cause of mortality in the Philippines. Through the efforts of the Philippine Cancer Society, cancer patients have access to financial aid, greater education and awareness about the disease, and community projects. The organization is also playing an active role in further research for cancer control and treatment programs. Their mission continues, thanks to the tireless work and support of patrons like The Best Dressed Women of the Philippines. This year’s gala proves that there is no shortage of generous hearts stepping up and stepping out for a really good cause.