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With the support of Bench/Suyen Corporation, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) is intensifying efforts to safeguard and promote the Philippine dress, specifically the Terno, through a series of regional workshops from 2025 to 2026. Led by the CCP’s Cultural Exchange Department and Production Design and Technical Services Division, these workshops are a cornerstone of the TERNOCON project—a national initiative focused on reviving the Terno as a preferred and prestigious form of attire among Filipinas.
Ternocon in the Regions 9
The “Fashioning the Terno” workshop series is designed not just to inspire interest in the Terno’s cultural and historical relevance but to provide emerging designers with comprehensive training in the garment’s design and assembly. By connecting participants with veterans in Philippine fashion, the workshops foster creative skills and technical mastery in Terno construction, thus ensuring the continuity of quality craftsmanship. Discussions and scholarly activities run concurrently, nurturing a vibrant academic and historical debate concerning the evolution and sociocultural significance of Philippine Dress, and stirring broader public involvement in its preservation.
The series kicked off its Mindanao edition at Paseo de Santiago, Iligan City, from October 27 to 30, 2025. The event was marked by lively workshops, peer and mentor critiques, and a parallel Ternocon 2025 exhibition hosted at Robinson’s Iligan Atrium. Here, visitors could view a selection of Ternos by Ternocon 2025 awardees—Peach Garde, Bryan Peralta, Windell Madis—and see the influence of noted mentor Ezra Santos. The program not only spotlighted this year’s talent but celebrated the enduring spirit of Filipino artistry embedded in the Terno tradition.
A group of twenty local designers, carefully selected from 14 different communities across Mindanao, participated in an intensive, hands-on workshop dedicated to the craftsmanship of the traditional Filipino terno. The program comprised practical training sessions and insightful lectures led by prominent figures in the local fashion scene: Gino Gonzales, the founding artistic director of Ternocon and a leading advocate for preserving Filipino dress; Len Cabili, noted for her extensive mentorship and integration of Filipino weaving techniques into modern fashion; Ricardo Eric Cruz, who will guide Ternocon’s artistic vision for 2025; Abdul Gaffar, recognized for his outstanding mentorship at the 2020 Ternocon; textile expert Carolina de Leon; Dinnes Obusan, the 2020 Bronze award recipient celebrated for innovative terno designs; and Windell Madis, who received the Mentors’ Choice Award in 2025 for his creative contributions.
The Mindanao segment of the Ternocon project was made possible through a strategic partnership with HULMA Iligan Creatives Collective, a group dedicated to promoting local artistry. The workshop also received substantial logistical and promotional support from the City Government of Iligan—including direct involvement from the Mayor’s Office and the Local Economic Development and Investment Promotions Office. Hosting support came from Robinsons Place Iligan, with educational backing from Christian Horizon School, and further expertise and resources provided by fashion designer Len Cabili. This collaborative effort aimed not only to improve terno-making skills but also to celebrate and sustain Mindanao’s rich textile and design heritage.
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