Beyond borders: Rajo’s ‘Lahi’ redefines the Filipino soul in Thailand
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‘MAN of the Hour’ designer Rajo Laurel.
Daily TribuneShare
‘MAN of the Hour’ designer Rajo Laurel.
‘MAN of the Hour’ designer Rajo Laurel.
COMMERCIAL Counselor Ella Burgos, Ambassador of the Philippines to Thailand H.E. Millicent Cruz Paredes, DTI Secretary Cristina A. Roque, Assistant Secretary Nylah Rizza Bautista, Chief of Staff – DTI Jeremiah C. Reyes, and Department Executive Director Paolo Federico Ramos.
VOGUE Thailand fashion editor Jongkol T. Polarit, Vogue Thailand editor in chief Kullawit Laosukri and chairman of Bangkok Fashion Society Polpat Asavaprapha.
VIRGINIA Teves Laurel
SHOW director Robby Carmona.
BJ Pascual, Nix Alanon and Georgina Wilson.
CINDY and Byron Bishop.
CHARMAINE Palermo and Elmer Lapeña
GINGGAY de la Merced
ROCIO Olbes
SOPHIA Shaw and Leica Carpo.
ANA Martha Moreno, Marielle Santos Po and Monique Borja
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BEA and Eric Dee.
MALOU Gamboa and Monchet Diokno Olives.
METRO Style EIC Geolette Esguerra and Mega EIC Peewee Reyes Isidro.
RAYMOND Gutierrez and Martine Cajucom.
Yesterday, the newly minted halls of the Dusit Thani Bangkok unmistakably pulsed with a Filipino soul as Rajo Laurel unveiled “Lahi,” a breathtaking 33-piece couture odyssey that served as a profound love letter to our heritage. In a brilliant display of cultural diplomacy, this landmark showcase — mounted by the DTI Philippine Creative Industries Development Council in partnership with Thailand’s Creative Economy Agency — proved that Filipino craftsmanship goes beyond tradition, and is a living force.
The successful and monumental occasion was graced by a distinguished assembly of leaders who championed this milestone in cultural diplomacy. The evening was presided over by the Secretary of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry, Ma. Cristina A. Roque, alongside the Philippine Ambassador to Thailand, H.E. Millicent Cruz Paredes, and other high-ranking officials from the DTI, including Assistant Secretary Nylah Rizza Bautista for Competitiveness and Innovation.
Group and Chief of Staff Jeremiah C. Reyes.
Also in attendance were Executive Director Paolo Ramos of the Philippine Creative Industries Development Council (PCIDC) and Commercial Counselor Emmanuelle Burgos of the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Bangkok, who were joined by prominent delegates from Thailand’s Creative Economy Agency (CEA) to celebrate the historic collaboration between the two nations during Bangkok Design Week.
Rajo, with his signature flair for drama and precision, transformed the runway into a sacred space where the past was reimagined through contemporary silhouettes, leaving the international set in absolute awe of our creative depth. The collection was a masterful tapestry of collaboration, elevated by the refined artistry of Arnel Papa, Celestina Ocampo, Monchet Olives and Maxine Santos. Every piece told a story of couture. As a highlight of Bangkok Design Week, “Lahi” transcended the typical fashion spectacle, fostering a powerful cross-border dialogue between two Southeast Asian neighbors — a poignant reminder honoring our roots with clarity and passion, with a creative future of global relevance that knows no borders.