Kuwero: Dance of Flame
Category: Apparel
Competitions: International
This piece draws from two powerful aspects of Filipino culture: the Balintawak and the Sanghiyang ritual of Indang, Cavite. The Balintawak, known for its butterfly sleeves and countryside charm, has long symbolized the Filipina—graceful, proud, and rooted in tradition. More than just a dress, it reflects joy, movement, and identity passed through generations. The Sanghiyang, or Sayaw sa Apoy, is a fire ritual I grew up witnessing. It's spiritual and deeply emotional. Fire becomes more than an offering; it becomes a bridge between people and the unseen, the present and the ancestral. In this design, I merge memory with ritual. The bolero reimagines the Balintawak in leather, a material of permanence and weight. An embossed flame moves across the back toward the shoulders, symbolizing not only ritual fire but the strength and spirit passed on by generations of women. This work is both tribute and transformation. Leather grounds the piece in the present, while the form and symbolism pay homage to the past. It’s about keeping tradition alive through design, evolving it without letting it fade.
