CEBU Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia will once again perform during the Sinulog Grand Parade on Sunday and this time, as a Spanish señorita with the La Torta Festival of Argao town.
This will be Garcia’s eighth year to perform in the Grand Parade, and this year, she will be dancing in a Cary Santiago gown.
Santiago, one of Cebu’s top designers, said the gown will be more “feminine” compared to the gowns she had worn in her previous performances.
Dominant colors will be pale gold and white, and it will be “more fluid and soft.”
Swarovski crystals and a little beadwork add beauty and glamour to the gown.
The intricate beadwork is done by at least four people.
The layered gown with ruffled skirt will have accents of gold lamey fabric with coco pattern on it, which Santiago ordered from Beirut, Lebanon. The silk he used for the gown is from Thailand.
The governor’s headdress, an oversized payneta, is made of brass. It will be worn with a white-and- gold veil.
Santiago said he picked white for the governor’s gown so she stands out among the red gowns of the La Torta dancers.
“White reflects power, her personality being strong. I always suggest to her to wear white. Not everybody wears white,” he said.
This is the fifth year that Santiago did Garcia’s gown.
Santiago also revealed that a trial for the hair and makeup was done last Wednesday to check that every detail fits with the gown.
This year, Garcia’s makeup will be done for the first time by Romero Vergara.
Vergara is one of Cebu’s top brass makeup artists who has done makeup for celebrities like Gretchen Barreto.
Her hairdo will be done by her hair stylist, Aries Baguio.
When asked how much he is charging for the gown , Santiago just said he gave the governor a good price. Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus