Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH (17"") CONGRESS
First Regular Session

5408

House Bill No.

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In the National Costume Segment of t
pageant, Mary Jean Lastimosa had worn her assigned
silenced the audience. Almost immediately, Filipute tesius
bluntly criticized the costume, saying that 1 looked Like a
cake.

These criticisms reached the Bb. Pilipinas Charities (BPCI
franchise holder for contestants wanting to repre
Miss Universe. There were two factors that led to criticisms against Unc
BPCI and Ms. Lastimosa’s costume. Firstly, it was endowed with a mix
of red and yellow flowers that me:

ent the country in

{up its supposedly Filipino

origins. Stella Marquez-Araneta, founder and head of Bb Pilipi
Charities, mentioned that it was derived from the "Pan gir tes
in Baguio.” But even that was not cnough when she sind, “lie desis
given to us were not good cnough for our candidates ‘That's the
reason | went abroad.” She was refermng to Filipiie desians !

were not enough for Philippine beauty page cont
Secondly, Alfredo Barr
Colombian. Of course

a, Who was the osturme clesianer
he designs for Colombian beauty 4
whose costumes are far more superior to ours! A related 1
Arielle Arida’s costume which Mr. Barrazai designed ane
the Filipino audience far more elegant than the cos
Lastimosa which was also the creation of Mr, Barta
audiences who watched her compet
cause of Mary Jean Lastimosa’s de!
Beauty Pageant.

the costume was a pussible

pat in the 2014 Miss Universe

Page | 1


Stella Marquez-Araneta, head of the BPCI, has issued

statement saying that she lauds Filipino fashion designers But its
too late since the mistake had come to pass

It is logical that competitors do their very best net just ts
but to show the world what they are made ol, W i
we cannot represent our true worth and ingenuity ever uy |
of things such as clothes? It hurts not only our Pilipine testi
designers but also us Filipinos

It must be emphasized that a Philippine design, whatever the
product may be, should be used by Filipino participants a all

international beauty contests. A costume design to be showcased by
our representative in international beauty pageants should be
reflective of the cultural essence of our country and our Filipine
designers should create a costume design that promotes Filipino
identity and nationality. With that, the audience or judy
international beauty contests can easily tell whether the work is

genuinely Filipino or not. In any international contest, most espectalls
international beauty pageants, nationality and desiwn should always
reflect our country’s expression of excellence and imgeniiny

for this reason that our Filipino fashion designers, 1 pu

their fields, should be the entrusted des:
contestants in international beauty pageants

It is only for this reason that the approval of this bill is be
sought.

Ow 6. O”W,

ERIC L, OLIVAREZ


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH (17) CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, 5408

Introduced by REPRE!

NTATIVE ERIC L. OLINAREZ

AN ACT MANDATING FILIPINO BEAUTY PAGEANT
CONTESTANTS IN INTERNATIONAL BEAUTY PAGEANT
COMPETITIONS TO WEAR OR USE COSTUMES DESIGNED OR
CREATED BY FILIPINO FASHION DESIGNERS

Section 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the
Filipino Fashion Designers for Fi Beauty Page t
Contestants Act of 2015.

Section 2. Coverage. This Act shall apply to all Pipa
beauty pageant contestants or participants ?

Philippines in any international beauty pageant compectiio.
including their handlers, sponsors, organizers and. francis
holders

Section 3. Declaration of Policy. |1 is hereby declared the
policy of the State to preserve and enrich Filipino national

culture, The State recognizes the importance to protect the
national culture because this constitutes the cultural treasure of
the nation. It is also the poli
support resi and studies on the arts and culture:

y of the state to encourage and

Section 4, Objectives. The objectives of this Act are as
follows:


a.) To promulgate the National Commission for Culture and
the Arts (NCCA) as the primary commission to regulate
fashion designers for beauty pageants and other fashion
design competitions in which the Philippines is
participatin;

b.) To facilitate greater coordination among fashion
designers in the country with the help of the NCCA, and

¢.) To require local franchise holders and other msututions
of beauty pageants to standardize the recruitment of
fashion designers to be strictly Filipino

Section 5. Costumes designed by Filij lesigners — bve
Filipino beauty pageant contestant or participant shall wear
use garments, dresses or costumes designed ct cated
Filipino fashion designers. Garments, Dresses or Co ‘
which are representative of Filipino culture dentit md
nationality shall at all times be the default fashion design tor

every Filipino beauty pageant contestant in any international
beauty pageant competition. Filipino fashion designers must at
all times be involved in the designing of garments, dresses and
costumes for Filipino beauty pageant contestants

Section 6, Assistance of Foreign Fashion Designers ~ Forvign
Fashion Designers may assist Filipino fashion designets in the
creation of garments, dresses or costumes of Filipino Beauty
Contestants in international beauty pageant contests. provided
that the fashion designers creating the dresses or costumes of
Filipino beauty contestants are working as a team. provided
further that the team is headed by a Filipino fashion desire

A foreign fashion designer may assist Pilipine Fusiio
Designer only in the following,

a. overseeing workers in the drawing v1
patterns and examining of samples or {it

b, sketching rough and detailed drawings of apparel ot
accessories, and writing specifications such as color schemes.
construction, material types and accessory requirements
pursuant to the instructions of the Filipino designer


¢. selection of materials to be used to 1 |
to conform to factors such as age. gender and ps
the Filipino contestants; and

d. such other works that may be assigned t rom
fashion designer by the Filipino designe:

Section 7. Recruitment of Filipino Designers All local
franchise holders, sponsors, handlers, organizers and other
institutions of beauty pageants shall be required to recruit or
have a pool of Filipino fashion designers who could immediately
be engaged, hired or tapped in any international beauty pageut
competitions.

Section 8. Sanctions. Any franchise holder, ta

organizer and sponsor whether a corporate institution ot
individual who or which grossly violates amy of tie pr :
stated in this Act shall be meted with a fine of P!UU.GU0 Uo

imprisonment of six (6) months or both at the discretiv
court. If the offender is a corporat penalty
imprisonment shall be applied to the members of the Board of
Directors, President and Manager.

Qn

Section 9. Period of Compliance. All lava! tric tiis:
holders, handlers, organizers or sponsors and other institutions
for beauty pageants shall comply with the requirements and
provisions of this Act within three (3) months from the effecuvity
of this Act.

Section 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. lu
National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA} in
coordination with the Office the President shall promulgate Ute
Implementing Rules and Regulations to carry out the provisions
of the Act. Such rules and regulations shall take effect Upon thet
publication in three (3) newspapers of general circulanon

Section 11. Repealing Clause. - All \iws. prosideria
decre: letters of instructions, executive orders, rule n
regulations insofar as they are inconsistent with this A re

hereby repealed or amended as the case may be

Page | §


Section 12. Separability Clause. ~ |) the event that any
provision of this act or any portion thereof is declared
unconstitutional by a competent court, the other provis
not be affected thereby and shall remain valid and enforceub\

Section 13. Effectivity Clause. — [is \v) shal
after its complete publication in at least three (3) 1
general circulation

APPROVED.