Patis Tesoro
The act of donning the traditional baro’t saya when she joined the Patrones de Casa Manila in the ’80s led to a personal epiphany for the woman who has become one of the strongest advocates for heritage conservation in the country. Since then, she has championed the revival of the country’s national attire by raising awareness on traditional fabrics such as piña and local cotton.
Likewise, she has employed the talents of local artisans in her own work—a move that has ensured that traditional forms of weaving and embroidery are neither lost nor relegated to mere footnotes in the history of Philippine fashion.
Tesoro once stated, “If we lose what is integral to being Filipino—our dress, our food, our homes—then we lose who we are.” These simple words perfectly encapsulate the need to uphold our culture, heritage, and pride in our national identity.