Cultural Impact on a World Stage
Carrying the spirit of Filipino celebration, Ahtisa Manalo brought something special with her to the Miss Universe 2025 event in Bangkok. Her national costume, “FESTEJADA: Queen of the Philippine Festivals,” captured the true Philippine celebrations in all their vibrancy through color, texture, and heritage.
Just two days before the coronation, the artistic creation was showcased on the 19th and was a great exhibit of cheerfulness and craftsmanship. It proved to be a winner.
Mak Tumang in the New Limelight
From Evening Gowns to the Grandeur of Festivals
Famed for his fantastic evening gowns, national costume designs are rare in the career of superstar designer Mak Tumang. Thus, when Ahtisa approached him for this project, he was glad to accept.
Tumang explained that he had previously briefed in production design, costume history, and execution before plunging into fashion design. It was, therefore, a refreshing welcome to the foundations for him that he would get to display a different dimension of his work with the national costume design.
Constructing the Vision: A Festival Queen Perspective
Ahtisa Desire: Lights, Danceable, and Majestic
In the initial phase in the conceptualization of her design, Ahtisa indicated a preference to take on the role of a festival queen as a wearer of the vibrant and elegant pieces. Tumang then focused her design to something very classic but was also very rarely seen in the Miss Universe stage – the traje de mestiza.
The silhouette with the traditional components of the baro, camisa, panuelo, tapis, and saya, were the start of the design. Tumang seamlessly integrated heritage and celebration, creating a festival queen inspired by the Maria Clara, a quintessential representation of a dignified and modest Filipina.
Skirt Tribute To Three Festivals
At the center of the design is a masterpiece then in the form of a multi-layered skirt that pays tribute to three of the most well-known festivals in the Philippines.
✨ Pampanga’s Giant Lantern Festival (Ligligan Parol)
The patterns and the construction of the skirt mimic gigantic lanterns that glow to symbolize hope and unity.
🌾 Lucban’s Pahiyas Festival
The abundance of colors in celebration of the harvest season, in greens, yellows, oranges, pinks, and reds represents the joyous spirit of the festival.
🌸 Baguio’s Panagbenga Festival
Over 65000 individual glittered heat pressed fabric petals were sewn to recreate the intricacy of the floral floats in the festival.
Honoring Heritage Through Materials and Symbols
Piña, Palay, and Festival Flair
The top portion of the ensemble is made of premium Piña fabric, which is a manifestation of Filipino artisanship. The panuelo and the butterfly sleeves are embroidered with palay, which is a grain that signifies the main crop of the country.
The design integrates fans which enhances the celebration theme. Adding to the design, a gilded peineta with a flower arrangement made of colored beads is decoration to Ahtisa, as the festival queen.
Mak Tumang on Seeing the Final Look
Mak Tumang, Ahtisa’s designer, was extremely delighted when he saw Ahtisa in the finished ensemble. It brought him to life once more after months of hard work and dedication to the design. He hopes that people of the Filipino descent all over the world will take immense pride in it.
Bringing Home the Crown
The impressive piece of national costume was created in hopes that Ahtisa Manalo will win the 5th Miss Universe crown for the Philippines. The coronation night will happen live on November 21, 9 am Manila Time, on YouTube Miss Universe channel.