Bianca Umali is no fashion rookie. Yet since finding a creative counterpart in stylist Danae Vernisse Dipon, her style evolution has become even more compelling, enriched by the work of Filipino designers such as Alser Lumawag, Novel, and, most especially, Ziv Rei Alexi. “Bianca has always appreciated stories, and that’s something Filipino designers also do through their creations,” Dipon tells MEGA. “She loves Filipino creativity, and wearing and supporting local artistry allows her to give Filipino designers a platform for wider recognition.”
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That appreciation for storytelling naturally followed the actress‘s appearance at this year’s highly anticipated MEGA Ball. Interpreting the evening’s “Fashion + Film” theme, the actor arrived in a custom Ziv Rei Alexi creation titled Mananambal, a tribute to the late superstar and grand dame of Philippine cinema, Nora Aunor.
“Mananambal is Nora Aunor’s last film, and Bianca had the privilege of working alongside her,” Dipon shares. “The idea naturally evolved into honoring that experience. It became our way of paying tribute to the film icon’s legacy through fashion while celebrating a moment that personally meant so much to Bianca.”
“Many people don’t realize how involved Bianca is with the Mananambal piece. Can you share how hands-on she is despite her busy schedule?”
“She was very involved from our earliest conversations, even setting up an online meeting for it. She shared her thoughts, references, and explained scenes from the film, and those really helped shape the direction of the piece,” Dipon says. “She wasn’t interested in wearing something just because it was glamorous and beautiful. She wanted every detail to have intention and carry meaning while still staying true to her own understated aesthetic and style.”
“This is such a heartfelt story behind a beautiful piece. Could you share with us how it evolved from an idea into the final look?”
“The narrative really started with Bianca,” Dana explains. “As an actor herself, she wanted to wear something that went beyond fashion and became a tribute to Philippine cinema, especially since the theme was something she felt genuinely connected to. Instead of directly recreating Alma, Bianca’s character in the film, our intention was to capture the essence of Mananambal and reinterpret it through fashion.”
One of the stylist’s key references came from a seemingly understated detail: a white cotton blouse worn by Nora Aunor in the film. “I loved how naturally it creased and how effortless it felt, yet it carried such a strong presence on screen,” Dana shares. “The sleeves, especially, had a very conservative, almost traditional quality that I found beautiful.”
From there, those visual cues became the foundation for the garment’s construction. Drawing from the film’s broader visual language, Ziv translated these ideas through texture, materiality, and silhouette. “The abaca fibers, sheer layering, distressed details, and naturally creased fabrics were all intentional,” Dana explains. “They echo the rawness and mystic mood of the film while still feeling elevated and contemporary. Through those elements, we were able to embody the atmosphere of both Bianca’s and Nora’s characters, as well as the spirit of the film itself.”
“Ziv Rei Alexi is known for creating pieces rooted in storytelling. What made him the perfect choice to bring this vision to life?”
“I’ve always admired how Ziv approaches design,” Dana says. “It’s inspiring how he creates beautiful pieces that carry emotion and tell a story. Since Mananambal had such a strong narrative behind it, I knew we needed someone who could translate those emotions creatively and intentionally into a garment without making it feel too literal. Ziv really understood that balance, and I think that’s what made him the perfect collaborator for the vision.”
“The storytelling extended beyond the garment itself. Even the footwear became an integral part of the narrative. Can you tell us more about this?”
“We also collaborated with Thian Rodriguez to recreate the Filipino ‘tsinelas’, which became another intentional element of the look,” Dana shares. “This represents Alma’s innocence as a girl living in the mountains, and another layer to the overall concept.”
“With her recent take on style and her approach to this year’s MEGA Ball, how would you now describe her fashion?”
“I think Bianca has become much more intentional with her fashion choices, and she’s also very honest about it. She’s not so much into chasing trends. She likes incorporating a few trendy pieces, but she leans more toward pieces that feel authentic to her style and to who she is as a person and an artist,” Dana shares how Bianca’s take on fashion has evolved into something beyond dressing up. “She’s become more open to using fashion as a form of storytelling, whether it’s through Filipino art, culture, her roles or the characters she’s portraying in her current works, or her personal experiences. That’s what makes her style so interesting now. It feels honest, thoughtful and very much her own.”
Photographed by KIM ANGELA SANTOS and EXCEL PANLAQUE, Art Direction by BRIE VENTURA and TROY NONATO, Production Design by JAGGER STUDIOS.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bianca Umali wore a custom piece by Filipino designer Ziv Rei Alexi titled Mananambal at the 2026 MEGA Ball, styled by Danae Vernisse Dipon. The gown was designed as a tribute to the late Nora Aunor and her final film, Mananambal, in which Umali had the privilege of acting alongside her. The look also featured custom Filipino tsinelas recreated by Thian Rodriguez.
The Mananambal gown was conceived as a tribute to Nora Aunor and her final film, interpreted through the 2026 MEGA Ball’s “Fashion + Film” theme. Stylist Danae Vernisse Dipon drew from a white cotton blouse worn by Aunor in the film — referencing its natural creasing, effortless presence, and conservative sleeve detail. Designer Ziv Rei Alexi translated these cues into abaca fibers, sheer layering, distressed details, and naturally creased fabrics to evoke the rawness and mystic atmosphere of the film.
Bianca Umali’s 2026 MEGA Ball gown was designed by Ziv Rei Alexi, a Filipino designer known for creating pieces rooted in narrative and emotional storytelling. The custom piece was titled Mananambal — the name of Nora Aunor’s final film — and was developed in close collaboration with stylist Danae Vernisse Dipon and Umali herself, who was actively involved in shaping the concept and its references.
According to stylist Danae Vernisse Dipon, Umali was deeply involved in the creative process — setting up early meetings, sharing personal references, and explaining specific scenes from Mananambal to help shape the direction of the piece. Dipon noted that Umali was not interested in wearing something simply because it was glamorous; she wanted every detail to carry intention and meaning while staying true to her understated personal aesthetic.
Ziv Rei Alexi is a Filipino fashion designer recognized for creating garments that carry emotional depth and narrative intent. He was chosen for the Mananambal gown because of his ability to translate complex emotional references into fashion without making the result feel overly literal — a quality stylist Danae Vernisse Dipon identified as essential given the deeply personal and cultural story the piece needed to tell.
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