FLORES de Mayo ladies in full finery. Sketch by Glen Lopez

ON the significance of the Flores de Mayo, Abe Floirendo writes in Sagala: The Queen of Philippine Festivals: “The greater reason, however, for the endurance of these festivities is the undiminished veneration of the Virgin and the Holy Cross, the bedrock of the faith, and the social and cultural anchor of the Maytime Santacruzan and the Flores de Mayo.” The lesser reason? Quite simply, people like the pomp and pageantry of these celebrations. That’s why after 29 years, the Congregacion del Santisimo Nombre del Niño Jesus continues its beautiful tradition of staging the Flores de Mayo. This year, it will be on May 4 at 5 pm.

The Rajah Sulaiman Park, in front of the Malate Church, will be the starting point of the procession, when the sagalas (lovely ladies especially chosen for the event) and their dashing escorts will be presented to the public. They will then proceed to the Puerto Real Gardens in Intramuros for the dinner and awarding ceremony.

With strong support from the Department of Tourism, the city of Manila, the Intramuros Administration and Unilever Philippines, this year’s Flores de Mayo’s theme is “Moda Pinoy: Romance at the Park.”

More than 30 enthralling ternos will be on glittering display, as fashion designers offer their time, talent and money to showcase their unwavering devotion to the Blessed Mother. They are Francis Calaquian, Jing Chua, Donnie Delima, Edgar San Diego, Danilo Franco, Toni Galang, Jan Garcia, Steve de Leon, Glenn Lopez and Pepe Quitco.

The Congregacion, led by the beloved Ben Farrales, also invited the members of the Quezon Fashion Designers of the Philippines Rhenee Capparos, Rosie Capistrano, Renato Edad, Annelo Lagrosa, Obet Orajay, Buddy Reyes, Rholand Roxas, Leslie Rivera, Christopher Quijano and Hessie Zoleta.

Legendary designer Aureo Alonzo is the premier guest designer and will interpret the “Rosa Mystica.” The hermanos mayores are Honorary Consul to Guatemala Mellie Ablaza and her husband Louie. Direction is by Ogee Atos.

To make the festivities more exciting, the most fabulous creations will be given awards: La Flor de Manila, Reina de las Flores, Rosa Mystica, Magandanag Filipina by Pond’s and another special citation for an indigenous creation to be awarded by Farrales, the dean of Filipino designers.

Italians do it better

BEFORE it celebrates its centennial in 2010, Italian menswear giant Ermenegildo Zegna has set its sharp sights on maintaining an average annual-revenue increase of at least 10 percent, hoping to reach €1 billion in sales in the process. How the Philippines as one of its emerging markets will figure in this goal remains a confounding and beautiful question.

The Blossoms of May

ON the significance of the Flores de Mayo, Abe Floirendo writes in Sagala: The Queen of Philippine Festivals: “The greater reason, however, for the endurance of these festivities is the undiminished veneration of the Virgin and the Holy Cross, the bedrock of the faith, and the social and cultural anchor of the Maytime Santacruzan and the Flores de Mayo.”

Gab Fab: Kristine’s ‘Prinsesa’ off to a third season

MANINGNING, the heroine on ABS-CBN’s afternoon drama Prinsesa ng Banyera, is loving and caring toward her family and friends. Since childhood, she has been the darling of the fish port, thus earning her the title “Prinsesa ng Banyera.”

How the mighty have fallen

I THOUGHT Francis Ford Coppola was being cranky last fall when he badmouthed Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro—the stars of Coppola’s immortal Godfather films—for taking parts for the money and losing their passion for doing great work.