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MAC GERARDINE DE LARA

Marikina Polytechnic College

CERTIFICATE OF TECHNOLOGY- MAJOR IN ARCHITECTURAL DRAFTING

Apparel, Accessories, Footwear

Hi! My name is Mac Gerardine Gozum De Lara , 31 years of age and residing at Marikina City, Philippines. My hometown Marikina City is a lush valley bounded by mountain ranges and sliced by a river. I am an incoming 2nd year college student at Marikina Polytechnic College and currently taking up a Certificate of Technology Major in Architectural Drafting. I am a working student and the breadwinner of my family. I work as a scheduler in a Call Center BPO industry at night and at the same time pursuing my studies in the day. My last time in college was 2009 where I was able to finish at least 3 years in B.S. Architecture at Baguio City in the Northern part of the Philippines. I stayed there throughout my college years and it became my second hometown. However at the age of 18 years old I was sent back home to Marikina City where I became the caregiver of my late grandmother who suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease. I started working also in different Fine-Dining Restaurants , Cafes and Fast food restaurants to provide for my family and to sustain for the medications of my late grandmother. Gaining those experiences in the food and service Industry help me to be able to find work abroad. And at the age of 22 years old I was able to work in Bahrain as an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) where in I work in a five-star hotel as a Commis Chef in Pastry and Bakery Department. Working abroad and away from my family was never an easy journey. I experienced homesickness, culture shock and hardships because of many demands at work and the fast phasing events happening in the hotel, but I was so blessed that it became the bread and butter and was able to provide for my family back home. Working overseas gained me more learning experiences in the food industry not just the front of the house but also back of the house. I learned different skills especially in baking and Cake artistry . By God’s grace I was able to work abroad for 5 years and went home for good just right in time before the Covid-Pandemic started. With my savings I started to come up with my Home-made Cakes and Pastries online business where I applied all my knowledge and skills in baking. My online cakes and pastries business lasted for almost 2 years, due to the ingredients demands and product suppliers having a hard time because of the on and off lockdown. So I decided to stop and work in a call center to be able to sustain and provide for my family. I am currently in my third year working now in the Call Center Industry and was blessed to go back to school last 2022 where I pursue Architectural Drafting. Sadly, none of my subjects from my previous 3 years in Architecture was credited due to the fact that it was 13 years ago already and we have a new curriculum now. Nevertheless, I am very thankful that I got a chance to continue with my studies, working to achieve my dreams, to provide for my family and be an inspiration to the people around me. God is Good!

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MATATAG

Category: Design

Competitions: Philippines

I named my design “MATATAG”- which means in English “stable,firm,strong, enduring and durable”. “Matatag” is a Filipino positive trait and best describes us Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) who stayed strong conquering not just the different parts of the world but most especially the fear of the unknown. Enduring homesickness and the hardships to provide for their family back home. Our OFWs are the new heroes of our nation, and the hero of their own family. Their love for their family is incomparable as they selflessly sacrifice their dreams to be able to give hope, sustain and provide a future for their family. My design is inspired by Neoclassical Architecture in the Philippines. As a Drafting Student I am always amazed and captivated with architectural drawings, designs, structures and landmarks. And from this where i conceptualized my design entry for this competition. And what inspired me the most to make my design is the columns specifically the Ionic Column. The columns are perhaps the most fundamental structure in classical Architecture. It originated from a simple post and lintel system which has been used for thousands of years. The MATATAG Design can be categorized as transformative fashion, It has 4 special features, one, it is Ionic- Inspired bag, second it can be transform into a above knee dress that is perfect for any casual events or meetings , thirdly it has a tulle made of indigenous Filipino fabrics, pinya, abaca or cotton, that hidden and roll in a neck pillow inspired shape but this tulle is wrap around just above the waist and contained by a zipper, once the zipper is open the tulle will roll down and will give you a wow factor effect perfect for any evening event, and lastly and the special feature of the MATATAG design is the geometric shape Apron that is hidden and folded like origami, it can be detachable also. As you can see on the Design in the front of the bag it has 2 triangles on it , it actually represents my hometown in the Philippines, Marikina City . Marikina City is a lush valley bounded by mountain ranges and sliced by a river. The chosen color of my MATATAG design is Midnight Blue and Gray . The reason is because I love looking at the midnight skies , the stars and the moon. The Capiz Shells on the ionic-inspired bag represent the moon and pearls represent the stars. Whenever I feel overwhelmed with all the adversaries in life and all the happenings around me. I just look up and pray and know that I have a God who is in control of everything and He knows me. Believing and trusting that He can turn the night into day , the overthinking and raging seas of life to calm and peace and that He's watching over me and cares for me. Why Apron? I chose to make an apron leather design because it represents me as a pastry chef. It tells a story about my food industry work experiences. Apron signifies a vital role in us as a chef and also to those who are in the food and healthcare industry . Apron for me is a representation of “service” or “ready for duty and service”. Apron protects our uniform from food stains, it is a protective or decorative garment worn over the front of one’s clothes and tied at the back. Aprons are Functional and essential. My geometric apron design is inspired from Origami and the Japanese Fashion Designer Issey Miyake . In 1993, he launched the PLEATS PLEASE ISSEY MIYAKE line using the unique “garment pleating” process. The label offered clothing as a product that was easy to wear, to care for and to travel with; practical for all aspects of daily life, comfortable, affordable, and elegant. The Apron is one of the special features of my MATATAG Design, it can detachable from the Ionic-Inspired bag or it can be worn with the Ionic-Inspired Dress. It has 3 secret pockets , foldable and easy to wear. All in all My MATATAG Design aims to help the Sustainable Development Goal Number 2 “ZERO HUNGER” and is about creating a world free of hunger by 2030. I know how it feels like having nothing . Growing up with a broken family and having to work at an early age to provide food for my family awakened my desire to help those who are in need and especially to ease the hunger. (“ In 2020, between 720 million and 811 million persons worldwide were suffering from hunger, roughly 161 million more than in 2019. Also in 2020, a staggering 2.4 billion people, or above 30 percent of the world’s population, were moderately or severely food-insecure, lacking regular access to adequate food. The figure increased by nearly 320 million people in just one year. Globally, 149.2 million children under 5 years of age, or 22.0 per cent, were suffering from stunting (low height for their age) in 2020, a decrease from 24.4 per cent in 2015. The number of people going hungry and suffering from food insecurity had been gradually rising between 2014 and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 crisis has pushed those rising rates even higher and has also exacerbated all forms of malnutrition, particularly in children. The war in Ukraine is further disrupting global food supply chains and creating the biggest global food crisis since the Second World War.”) -This is taken from https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/hunger/ Given the opportunity to be part of this design competition, I am very grateful and excited to showcase my skills, talents and knowledge in drafting and incorporate it with fashion designing. In the end, It's all about the details. Not only architecture impresses us with their details, forms and structures, but fashion means the same. I always believe that art is limitless and so even architecture, drafting and fashion design can collaborate to create meaningful artworks and masterpieces that are durable, functional, versatile, sustainable and aesthetically stunning designs. Lastly, I would say that my designs can be called …”Wearable Architecture”.

In association with Arts Thread

Working with our partners at Arts Thread to develop lifelong learning and career opportunities for students of fashion and design. Our partnership provides the opportunity to compete on a world stage, participate in industry led workshops, set up an outstanding portfolio and gain access to the resources that will kickstart careers in fashion and design.