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Every culture has its own way of remembering itself. Some carve history into stone; others preserve it in song. In the Philippines, memory often returns through celebrations. Festivals are, after all, part of a country’s living archive—a collective history retold every year so tradition never slips quietly into the past. It was this very idea that framed Mak Tumang’s vision for “FESTEJADA,” the national costume worn by Ahtisa Manalo for Miss Universe 2025.
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The Queen of Philippine Festivals
Long before “FESTEJADA” took shape, it lived first in Tumang’s imagination. Born in Pampanga and internationally recognized for the Mayon and Ibong Adarna gowns worn by Catriona Gray in Miss Universe 2018, he approached national costume design with a narrative in mind.
The costume began with the familiar outline of the traje de mestiza. Its softly structured camisa, generous saya, and the modest drape of the pañuelo recalled a national consciousness in the form of María Clara, whose presence has persisted far beyond the pages of Noli Me Tangere. Yet Tumang had his own interpretation. In his hands, the silhouette became a joyous vessel for Ahtisa to inhabit its history without being confined by it.
Few textiles speak so clearly of Filipino ingenuity as the piña fabric, which lay at the heart of the upper ensemble. Embroidered onto it were motifs rich with intention, such as the abanico (fan) and palay (rice grain).
A Festival in Motion
Certainly, the most striking element of all was the skirt. Composed of more than 65,000 hand-cut, die-cut, and heat-pressed petals sewn one by one, it became a landscape of precious Philippine festivals. Each step sent the vibrant colors of Pahiyas rippling through the folds. And beneath the petals, the textures were a nod at Panagbenga’s floral grandeur, where blooms transformed the streets of Baguio.
The very structure of the skirt also revealed the designer’s roots. Its three tiers mirrored the architecture of the Kapampangan parol—Tambur, Siku-Siku, and Palimbun—a direct homage to Pampanga’s Giant Lantern Festival.
Finally, crowning Ahtisa was a reimagined peineta, finished with filigree-inspired gold details. With direction from stylist Patty Yap, the ensemble settled into a harmony that felt both regal and intimately familiar—an aesthetic shaped by centuries but brought fully into the present.
“FESTEJADA” ultimately stood as a powerful meditation on collective memory. It drew from the gatherings that have shaped Filipino identity, namely the rituals repeated out of devotion. In carrying these stories, Ahtisa Manalo became a portrait of the enduring brilliance of the Filipino spirit. Through her, we’re essentially remembered, preserved, and celebrated on one of the world’s grandest stages.
Photographed by SEVEN BARRETTO
Designed by MAK TUMANG
Styled by PATTY YAP
Makeup by MICKEY SEE
Shot on location LAS CASAS QUEZON CITY
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