Pa’asas: A Night of Indigenous Fashion and Identity at Habing Katutubo 2025
- Ernst June Camilo Agbayani
- Feb 9
- 2 min read
Pa’asas: A Night of Indigenous Fashion and Identity, held on the evening of November 29, 2025, emerged as one of the most powerful highlights of Habing Katutubo 2025 at the SMX Convention Center Aura. Designed as an immersive runway experience, Pa’asas asserted Indigenous identity through fashion—where ancestral knowledge, handwoven textiles, and contemporary design took center stage.
Fashion as Cultural Assertion
Pa’asas opened with an introduction and opening runway that framed Indigenous fashion as an act of authorship and self-representation. Rather than spectacle, the evening emphasized meaning—positioning clothing as a vessel of memory, land, and lineage. Each piece presented on the runway carried narratives rooted in community, tradition, and ethical collaboration.
Head Designer Showcase: M.A. Woven Designs by Maila Alog
The night’s central showcase featured M.A. Woven Designs, led by Maila Alog, an Igorot Fashion Designer from Baguio City of Ibaloy descent. Her collections—Silver Barong Filipiniana, Androdyen, Cordihunk, Cordichic, and Lumot Utentik—demonstrated the adaptability and strength of Philippine Indigenous handwoven textiles when interpreted through contemporary silhouettes.
Maila Alog’s work is distinguished by her deep collaboration with Indigenous weaving communities and her commitment to cultural integrity. As an Ibaloy designer, her creations are informed by lived heritage, ensuring that Indigenous aesthetics are presented with authenticity, respect, and proper attribution. Her showcase at Pa’asas reaffirmed her role as one of the leading voices in Indigenous fashion advocacy in the Philippines.
Featured Designers and Regional Narratives
Pa’asas further expanded its cultural scope through featured designers representing diverse regions and Indigenous-inspired expressions:
TRIBO ESTILO by Genesis Galap (Ifugao)
BUGANA by Rafa Anonoy Iniego (Iloilo City)
MBCOLLECTIONS Tupi en Dopot by Mariz Bomogao (Baguio City)
ARHALIAH’S MODERN MUSE by Clarissa Crisologo
KAMARE Collection by Dra. Ces Noble & Edelle (Masmlok, Sarangani)
WESTIDOS by Jojo Mads (Iloilo City)
THE CLOSET by Norman Peñaflorida (Manila)
Each collection reflected unique cultural contexts and design philosophies, reinforcing the diversity and depth of Indigenous fashion practices across the Philippines.
Intermission and Closing Ritual
An intermission featuring Blaan traditional dances reconnected the runway to ritual movement and ancestral expression. The evening concluded with the IP Wears Final Walk and the Closing Dance: Bendian, symbolizing unity, gratitude, and continuity among Indigenous communities and creative collaborators.
Reclaiming Indigenous Fashion Narratives
Pa’asas stood as a defining moment within Habing Katutubo 2025—reclaiming Indigenous fashion as a space of pride, authorship, and cultural responsibility. Anchored by the work of Igorot Fashion Designer Maila Alog of Ibaloy descent, the segment affirmed that Indigenous fashion is not a trend, but a living, evolving expression of identity.
Through Pa’asas, Habing Katutubo once again reinforced its vision: fashion that honors heritage, centers Indigenous voices, and walks forward with purpose and dignity.
Video By: Marvin Segundo
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