LIFE

Design forward

The future investment is on creativity and its reach into the different industries. In a country rich in, tradition and culture, Filipinos have been crafting throughout history. Today, the world’s attention on artisanal and crafty creations have made them more relevant.

Luis Espiritu
First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos (center) joins Fashion Aid president Paul Cabral and director Patrick Rosas, along with forty seven contestants at the inaugural screening of The Grant.

Fashion Aid Philippines recently held the successful inaugural screening for The Grant at Salcedo Auctions, Nex Tower, Makati city. Forty-nine young Filipino creatives from all over the country, in various disciplines, were vying to be part of the top 20 finalists. Each participant had to wait their turn to present their passion projects.

The Grant offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Filipino designers to showcase their vision, craft and innovation on a national platform.

Dennis Lustico, Oliver Tolentino
Bang Pineda, Jojie Dingcong, PJ Pascual

The esteemed panel of judges included hotelier, philanthropist, fashion and art lover Tina Cuevas, celebrity stylist and fashion designer Bang Pineda, international fashion buyer for Valentino New York and stylist PJ Pascual, tastemaker and creative force of the famed store Mentxaka Doody Tuazon, top talent agent and branding expert, former chairman of Bacolod’s MassKara Festival Jojie Dingcong, international furniture designer known for R&Y Augousti Paris Yiouri Agousti, couture designer based in Beverly Hills Oliver Tolentino, Tatler Philippines editor-in-chief Anton San Diego, editor-in-chief of The Diarist Thelma San Juan and social set editor and chronicler of Filipino fashion scene for DAILY TRIBUNE, Luis Espiritu. The screening event was also supported by First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos and selected members of the Diplomatic Corps.

The Grant 2025 Panel of Judges
Yiouri Agousti Tina Cuevas, Patrick Rosas
Thelma San Juan, Paul Cabral

In recent years, design competitions, exhibitions and advocacies have proliferated. The future investment is on creativity and its reach into the different industries. In a country rich in tradition and culture, Filipinos have been crafting throughout history. Today, the world’s attention on artisanal and crafty creations have made them more relevant. This visionary project of First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos is inspiringly in support of the new wave of Filipino design talents and the creative community.

Announcement of the 20 finalist will this 11 July, 2025.

Ambassadors Eduardo Antonio Young Virzi and Andreas Pfaffernoschke.
Arsi Baltazar, Andrew Caruthers
Consul Agnes Huibonhoa, Amb. Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino
Lelet Tumana of Higaonon Tribe at Bukidnon with her Hinabol Weave.
Rolando Lotho, Francis Libiran
Maureen Disini
Mark Tanpoco, Jennifer Tanpoco, Danmark Bantay, Carl Fider