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ERNEST
SANTIAGO will be missed.
As the
first multihyphenate (fashion designer-lifestyle
arbiter-food connoisseur-landscape artist-furniture
maker), the singular and self-made Santiago de Manila
never went gently into the good night. In death as in
life, he has stirred Manila from its restless stupor and
once again reminded its denizens of the force of nature
that he will always be.
Murdered
most heinously at his resort café in Pagsanjan, Laguna,
just as the year was coming to a close, reportedly by
persons he trusted immensely, Santiago’s senseless
passing is mourned by the fashion flock still reeling
from the equally meaningless and unsolved deaths of
fashion designers Mel Vergel de Dios a few years ago and
Caloy Badidoy in the early 1990s.
Indeed,
if not AIDS, is murder the scourge of fashion?
In the
mid-1970s, along with Rudy Fuentes and Christian
Espiritu, Ernest formed Buklod, a short-lived designers’
group which eventually led to the founding of the
Fashion Designers Association of the Philippines (FDAP),
still the largest and longest-lasting clique of its
kind. With Cesar Gaupo as the first president, Ernest
served as the chairman of the board.
While
checking and balancing the most bloated egos and
personalities of the design world at the time, Ernest
established what would be the most famous nightclub this
side of Studio 54, Coco Banana. It would prove to be his
enduring legacy to local pop culture.
Now, a
quick rundown of why Ernest Santiago is a legend:
§
Christian Espiritu. Aside from introducing Coco Banana,
he could be credited as one who initiated an avant-garde
and irreverent approach to fashion design. He’s his own
walking model-advertisement.
§
Barge
Ramos. Ernest was fearless in his design ideas. When
designers were heading in one direction, trust Ernest to
take the extreme opposite. Bold in approach, singular in
vision, he would always take to the road not taken.
§
Lito
Perez. Very innovative, original and Filipino in design.
§
Edgar
San Diego. For me, his contribution to pop culture is really Coco Banana. It was
where the real and unreal socialeras, designers, showbiz
people, models, business girls and foreigners dressed up
in high-fashion (regardless if they were foreign or
local designer outfits, vintage Hawaiian shirts or dyed
cotton barong from Bambang) flock together and dance the
night away to some classic favorites, like “The Boss,”
“MacArthur’s Park,” “The Main Event,” “Souvenirs,” etc.
Ernest even had these much-awaited Annual Grand Openings
after two weeks of renovation, and it was a must that
you got an invite that says “Coco Banana.” Back then,
the world knew where we were! After all, Sean Connery
wouldn’t go there for no reason.
§
Ole
Morabe. I guess it was in his desire to unify Filipino
fashion designers and come up with a singular silhouette
serving as a guide for every designer, that’s why he
founded the FDAP. Ernest was so ahead of his time. He
made it a point that he will never copy but he should be
copied.
§
Lulu Tan
Gan. Ernest is a true icon, avant-garde in the ’70s and
’80s. He was proud to be a Filipino artist-designer who
set the trends, both in fashion and lifestyle. We all
look up to him, to the pride and passion he put into his
work.
§
Bumbee
Ramos. He was the exponent of gay culture and gay power.
He opened the closets of the hiding queens and gave them
a stage at Coco Banana. Gayism made a good impression. A
real fashionista, he played with indigenous materials,
dropdead if you like. There was no rule in his ingenuity
but his heart for the art.
§
Ronaldo
Arnaldo. Ernest is known for his dramatic and theatrical
creations, which are being inherited by the younger set.
His penchant for dramatic clothes is what I think is
Ernest’s legacy.
§
Edgar
Madamba. He was ahead of his time. The innovator of
Philippine fashion, he made the Filipino costume very
wearable. A revolutionist.
§
Marden
Iglesias. Ernest’s sense of color, fabrication and
silhouette always had a pulse ahead of its time. For me,
I salute Santiago de Manila for being one of Philippine
fashion’s pillars of design. He initiated and elevated
Filipiniana design inspirations to contemporary style
and élan. He clearly defined and illustrated the
Filipino artistry, drama and gaiety in his clothes,
furniture, landscape and entertainment. Ernest Santiago
is a truly Filipino grand design styliste. He will be
dearly missed by all who he has inspired and loved.
§
Anthony
Nocom. I belong to that last batch of generation which
enjoyed and benefited from his Coco Banana. Aside form
being one of Manila’s creative and innovative fashion
designers of his time, to me personally, Ernest is best
remembered as the artist who gave meaning to the word
“discotheque.”
§
Randy
Ortiz. Ernest will always be remembered for being one of
the best designers of his time, with a very strong
contemporary avant-garde signature. A true-blooded party
animal. Truly an inspiration and a legend.
§
Cata
Figueroa Jr. As an avant-garde artist, he was way ahead
of his time. A true-blue artisan who lived his life to
the fullest while, at the same time, bringing his art
form to a higher level. He has become an icon in the
local fashion world, someone who is truly one of a kind.
§
Jackie
Aquino. Ernest gave us Coco Banana, our home where we
could be ourselves. He defined the fabulous nightlife
and made Malate fashionable. He made fashion daring,
fun, exciting and gave everyone something to talk about.
In his
last showcase as a fashion designer, Ernest Santiago
opted to brandish his outrageous terno design at
the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel. How was he coaxed out of
retirement by the general manager?
§
Recalls
Marco Protacio: “Well, I needed the help of Thelma San
Juan to convince him. I told Ernest that the event would
be so much fun not only because of the show that
Waterfront was producing, but because of the presence of
his friends who were part of the event, just like a fun
reunion of some sort! I had to make him cariño and
lambing nonstop until he said yes. Of course, we had the
most wonderful time. We all sat down for a great laugh
and great conversation every mealtime.” |
