Pathways Presents "Fashion Icon"

By: Ivan L. Lawag (WVSU)

Filipinos regard education as one of the most important tool in improving their lives. But based on statistics, only 2 out of 10 Filipino students finish with a college degree. It means that only few can gain access to better jobs and stable lives.
These realities prompted Ateneo de Manila University and Ford Foundation to create Pathways to Higher Education. Pathways to Higher Education is a non-government organization that aims to help poor, less fortunate, but deserving students to have a better access to quality higher education. The said organization does not only help its beneficiaries get ito a good college or university but also trains them holistically to ensure that they can acquire quality education. Pathways faithfully obtains its funding by partnering with co-NGOs and soliciting the help of generous donors. Pathways Youth Groups are actively working for its vision in different parts of the country.
Here in Iloilo, groups of Pathways students from the West Visayas State University and West Visayas State College of Science and Technology initiated a project that could aide them in their fund raising schemes. Pathways Dalan (WVCST) and Project SULAT (WVSU) and the Supreme Student Government of WVCST organized “Fashion Icon” a fashion show contest for a cause.
Ten males and ten females from both schools joined the said modeling competition. The males and females showcased the ever elegant and ever sophisticated masterpieces and creation of Mr. Mandy Salcedo, Iloilo’s newest Prince of Fashion. The show was held at WVCST last December 14, 2006.
The stage was covered with shades of red as the models showcased the designer’s elegant Red Collection. Hues of black and white overshadowed the serene center stage as Mandy’s Black and White collection.
A sensational heat flourished inside the hall as the models showcased the designer’s unique and daring masterpiece of Summer Resort Wear. After that, the audience was then amazed by how the Iloilo’s prince of fashion transformed ordinary denims in to an astonishing one with his Denim Collections.
The models lastly, paraded with the designer’s excellent shades of colorful gowns for the ladies and elegant black suites for the males.
The affair lasted for 3 and ½ hours yet the people are still eager to see and to know the winners. The winners were based 80% of judges’ total scores and 20% for their popularity basis.
Male model # 8 won the title as Male Fashion Icon 2006. He is also awarded as Mr. Photogenic, Mr. Popularity, and Best in Red Collection. Model #3 is 1st runner up. He is also adjudged as Best in Black and White Collection and Best in Summer Resort Wear. Male model #6 was judged 2nd Runner-up. Male model #7 though didn’t made it to the top spot, took the Best in Denim Wear and Best in Formal Wear award.
For the ladies, model #1 earned the title Female Fashion Icon 2006. She was awarded as Miss Popularity. 1st Runner-up is model #5. She was awarded as Best in Denim Wear and Best in Formal Wear. The 2nd Runner-up is model #6. She took the Best in red Collection, Best in Black and White Collection and the Best in Summer Resort Wear Collection. Model #10 was awarded as Miss Photogenic.
The judges who carefully scrutinized and picked the winners were: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.

The sponsors are: Mr. Mandy Salcedo, Mang Inasal, Winner’s Gym, The News Today, Pepsi, Alex Floer Garden, CocoGrill Restaurant, RS Development Center, ABS-CBN TV-10 Iloilo, and J and R Family Studio.

The Proceeds of the said project will go to both Pathways Youth Group’s Sharing the Light Project, a project that aims to improve specific public high school libraries in Iloilo.