Mentor and designer Len Cabili discusses terno construction and cultural inspiration during the 'Fashioning the Terno' workshop in Iligan City. 
LIFE

CCP brings terno workshop and exhibit to the regions

The Cultural Center of the Philippines brings ‘Fashioning the Terno’ to the regions—empowering local designers, celebrating Filipino craftsmanship, and keeping the elegance of the national dress alive across the islands.

Florence Atabay

The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), through its Cultural Exchange Department and Production Design and Technical Services Division, with support from partner organization Bench/Suyen Corporation, continues its mission to preserve and promote the Philippine dress through a series of regional workshops from 2025 to 2026.

Titled “Fashioning the Terno,” the workshop series is part of the ongoing Ternocon project, an initiative that aims to encourage the wearing of the terno as a contemporary and popular form of dress while inspiring and motivating emerging designers to master its intricate construction. The project also promotes scholarly dialogue on issues surrounding the Philippine dress, sustaining public awareness and appreciation of this national attire.

The works of Bryan Peralta on exhibit.

The Mindanao leg of “Fashioning the Terno” took place from 27 to 30 October at Paseo de Santiago, Iligan City, and was complemented by a Ternocon 2025 exhibit at the atrium of the mall Robinsons Iligan. The exhibit, Ternocon 2025: Contemporary Philippine Garments Inspired by 20th Century Filipino Artist, showcased elegant ternos by Ternocon 2025 winners — Peach Garde, Bryan Peralta, and Windell Madis — alongside the works of mentor Ezra Santos.

Modern interpretations of the terno take center stage at the Ternocon 2025 exhibition.

Twenty local designers representing 14 communities across Mindanao participated in intensive hands-on training sessions on terno-making, complemented by lectures and demonstrations from Ternocon Founding Artistic Director Gino Gonzales, former mentor and judge Len Cabili, Ternocon 2025 Artistic Director Ricardo Eric Cruz, Abdul Gaffar (2020 Chief Mentor awardee), Carolina de Leon, Dinnes Obusan (2020 Bronze awardee), and Windell Madis (2025 Mentors’ Choice awardee).

Local designers from Mindanao engage in hands-on terno-making sessions as part of the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ 'Fashioning the Terno' regional workshop series.

The Mindanao workshop was jointly organized and implemented in partnership with the Hulma Iligan Creatives Collective, with the support of the city government of Iligan, City Mayor’s Office, Local Economic Development and Investment Promotions Office, Robinsons Place Iligan, Christian Horizon School, and fashion designer Len Cabili.

The exhibit opening at Robinsons Iligan.

Through “Fashioning the Terno,” the CCP continues to bring its cultural development programs closer to the regions—celebrating Filipino craftsmanship, empowering new designers, and ensuring that the timeless grace of the terno remains a living tradition in Philippine fashion.