Style icon and philanthropist Tingting Cojuangco will present her fifth set of 10 “Elegant Filipinas” on Sept. 10 at Diamond Hotel.
Through the years, Cojuangco, Fortune Ledesma, Zelda Kienle, Tina Ocampo, and Vanessa Suatengco have been instrumental in organizing the event to showcase the distinct elegance each of the recognized woman possesses and to provide aid for the group’s charitable endeavors.
This year will be mounted for the benefit of the World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines.
Betsy Westendorp
The painter, known for her breathtaking landscape paintings and renditions of the sky, is the night’s guest of honor.
Amina Aranaz
One of the country’s most recognized accessory designers, she was educated at Istituto Marangoni Milano. She is a co-founder of SoFa Design Institute, School of Fashion and Arts, and founder of Aranaz, known for its intricate fashion accessories.
Ayen Munji-Laurel
She is an award-winning actress, singer, and producer whose career has spanned more than 30 years in the industry. She founded ALM Foundation that supports the rehabilitation of orphanages, the education of orphans, and their housing needs.
Mercedes Lopez Vargas
As the president and executive director of Lopez Group Foundation, she encourages public service in programs that include education, environment, livelihood, health and wellness, and arts and culture.
Chaye Cabal-Revilla
One of the youngest and successful finance leaders in the Philippines who is responsible for healthy margins and consistent operating results of PLDT, she uses her role to advocate education by spearheading the Gabay Guro program.
Happy Ongpauco-Tiu
The chef and restaurateur is behind a successful chain of restaurants all over the country. Through her advocacy, Pangkabuhayan project, she helps two employees a month by giving them livelihood and teaching them how to operate their business of choice.
Catherine Arambulo
A woman who wears many hats—a lifestyle blogger, interior designer, stylist, entrepreneur, and mother of two—she hopes to impart positivity to people through her projects.
Iza Calzado
She uses her influence as an actress and producer to promote body positivity—something close to her as she revealed she had a “destructive love-hate relationship” with her body growing up.
Ria Prieto
She is a multi-talented stylist whose range extends from fashion to décor projects. She is currently a contributing editor of a lifestyle website of one of the country’s biggest broadsheets.
Jo Ann Bitagcol
This model and photographer has been making Manila’s fashion and art scene interesting for two decades. But she never rests on her laurels; she keeps evolving and creating something new—this time, it’s printing her photographs on scarves.
Aleta Suarez
A representative of Quezon City 3rd District, she has been fighting for the growth and development of local palm oil (copra) industry by urging the Department of Trade and Industry and other concerned agencies to stop the importation of palm oil