02 October 2023, Ankara, Türkiye – The Philippine Embassy in Ankara, in partnership with HapiHabi Wearable Weaves (HHWW), participated in the World Cultures Festival at the CerModern Arts Center in Altindağ, Ankara on 22-23 September 2023.
The Philippine Embassy team headed by Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Juan E. Dayang Jr. (5th from left) at the Philippine booth, exhibiting the traditional Filipino handwoven textiles. (Embassy photo).
The Embassy booth showcased Philippine traditional handweaves, produced by the weaver communities in the Philippines. These included the display of handwoven textiles, and a variety of items such as headbands, scarves, bags and modern clothing with weaves including Kantarines, Pinilian, and Binakul from the Northern Philippines and the Yakan Tennun, Ulew, Tubao, Inaul, T’nalak and Landap from Mindanao. Embroidered textiles from Panay Island were also displayed.
Visitors at the booth admiring the handwoven textiles on display. (Embassy photo)
On the last day of the festival, the Philippine Embassy and HapiHabi staged a Fashion Show showcasing modern outfits incorporating the Philippine handweaves. The Fashion Show drew a large crowd which showed keen interest in the weaves. The outfits, designed by HapiHabi’s owner Atty. Evie Medina-Navarro, were showcased by fourteen (14) models composed of six (6) Turkish nationals, three (3) Embassy personnel including Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Juan E. Dayang Jr., four (4) Filipino community members and Ms. Gia Navarro, the daughter of Atty. Medina.
Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Gokhan Yazgi joined by diplomatic heads of post of attending embassies , including Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Juan E. Dayang Jr. (Embassy photo).
Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Juan E. Dayang Jr (center) with Atty. Evie Medina-Navarro and the fourteen (14) Filipino and Turkish models of the Philippine Fashion Show displaying the outfits with Philippine handweaves at the World Cultures Festival in CerModern Arts Center in Ankara (Embassy photo).
At least one hundred and fourty (140) visitors perused the variety of items at the booth over the course of the two-day event. More than fifty (50) countries participated in the World Cultures Festival, as organized by Ebrișem, a private cultural entity in Türkiye
The Highlights of the Fashion Show
Filipino models wearing upcycled black dresses with Maguindanao Inaul at the Philippine Fashion Show held at the World Cultures Festival. (Embassy photo).
Three Turkish models in their special bomber jackets with T’nalak, from the T’boli tribe of South Cotabato. (Embassy photo).
Three Turkish ladies in their stunning traditional Maranao Landaps or Malong. They are also wearing elegant cocktail dresses with Landap accents. (Embassy photo).
Philippine Embassy Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Juan E. Dayang Jr (center) joins Attaché Wendell Glenn Gaa (left) and Finance Officer Oliver Ong in showcasing their long-sleeved polos with colorful Maguindanao Inaul. ((Embassy photo).
