Negrense designer shines in a Malaysian fashion tilt for unique Filipino terno creations inspired by the story of a fishing community in Negros Occidental’s Silay City.

By ERWIN “AMBO” DELILAN

A 36-year-old Negrense designer won the top prize at the Precious of Malaysia International Cultural Fashion Festival held at PRX Menara Building in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, August 17.

Steve Gensola of Barangay Guinhalaran in Negros Occidental’s Silay City, bested 24 other designer participants from Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

His “obra maestra,” composed of six ternos, wowed not only the judges in the competition, but also fashion gurus and patrons in Malaysia and other countries.

Gensola, a nurse by profession, said he himself can’t believe that he won the coveted Best Collection title.

“Quite surreal, but all the hard work paid off for my very first international exposure-slash-competition,” he said.

Gensola said that what made his creations unique is because he puts a story on them.

“[It’s] all about fishing and fish vending in our barangay. Such story serves as my inspiration in crafting out-of-the-box ideas, making a generic story of a humble fishing village into a high-fashion statement,” Gensola related.

The Negrense designer’s cuts and design accents seemed to be common to see.

They, however, excelled as they spelled uniqueness, storified by the design accents made of various fishing and fish vending gear.

Born from a family of tailors — from lolas to aunties — Gensola knew that since he was a kid, he really had the heart for fashion designing.

Nonetheless, he still finished nursing at Colegio de San Agustin-Bacolod, just to grant his parents’ wish.

In 2013, an opportunity knocked when John-John Ditching, a renowned couturier in Bacolod, held a search for young designers to compose the Bacolod Circle of Young Designers.

He was chosen among Ditching’s mentees then.

Five years later, or in 2018, Gensola ventured into his very first national exposure by simply joining the Terno Competition (TernoCon) held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

He just landed among the finalists.

But it didn’t dampen his spirit to further his dream of creating more designs, mostly in the field of Filipino terno creations.

And when the time came for Malaysia’s fashion tilt, Gensola said he was more than ready to showcase his astonishing creations and collections.

What he did was he made a tweak by integrating a story within his cuts and designs.

“Such story serves as my inspiration in crafting out-of-the-box ideas, making a generic story of a humble fishing village into a high-fashion statement.”

STEVE GENSOLA
Negrense designer

And that story of his native place, Guihalaran, really made his creations not only standout, but must-see things in the competition in Kuala Lumpur.

“This is my passion — to create designs for Filipinianas and barongs. But to make a difference, I want to tell a story in every piece I want to pursue because a story makes every fashion piece more relatable,” he stressed.

Gensola thanked Ditching for the training and guidance, making him not just a fashion designer, but also the best storyteller for every gown and barong he makes.

Ditching was also the couturier of Negros Oriental 3rd District Representative Janice Degamo, whose gown during the 4th State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. was one among those that stood tall because it has a hand-painted sash with the infamous story of massacre that victimized her husband, the later Governor Roel Degamo, on March 4, 2023.

Gensola said Ditching was really his mentor that brought him to where he is right now.

After winning Best Collection at Malaysia’s fashion fest, Gensola immediately got offers from Manila and abroad for an exhibit for his collections.

He, however, said he will first display his winning pieces during tourism week in Silay City next month.

Gensola said it will be his take-off to more engagements with fashion people here and abroad.

Meanwhile, Silay Mayor Joedith Gallego hailed Gensola for such a feat in an international fashion tilt.

“We, the Silaynons, are so proud of him. He is our new gem in the field of fashion and even in culture and heritage. He embodies the essence of a true Silayon — being artistic,” Gallego said./EAD, WDJ