‘BORN BRAVE’: Fashion show promotes mental health awareness

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Fifteen notable designers and 37 local models from different areas in the Philippines will be joining a fashion show for a cause here on October 12 to advocate mental health and down syndrome awareness.

Dubbed “Born Brave,” the fashion show will be held at the SMX Convention Center here. Tickets are on sale at P1,000.

According to fashion show director Rodney Ascalon, this is the first “Born Brave” fashion show here initiated by Congressman Greg Gasataya, who also supports the said cause.

The show aims to raise funds for the Youth for Mental Health Coalition, Inc., and Happy Hearts Foundation.

“We want to empower people by spreading awareness on mental health and we are soliciting support for the down syndrome community,” he said.

Ascalon said the fashion show will feature 21 models and celebrities from Metro Manila, Bacolod, Iloilo, and other provinces in the country.

Some of the designers also include Albert Andrada, Leo Almodal, Cary Santiago, Domz Ramos from Metro Manila, Edwin Benitez, Tony De Ramos, Chino Christopherson, Kat Padilla, Leonard Geraldes, Trude Lizares, Apol Embang, and Migi Atelier from Bacolod, and Junriz Henderin, Jun-G Candellario, Jet Salcedo from Iloilo.

Ascalon said they will also be showing videos about the advocacy for mental health and down syndrome during the show.

“This is not just the first and last wave because we are planning to pull out series of events to reach out to a bigger audience,” he added.

Meanwhile, Gasataya thanked the models and the designers for coming to Bacolod and for supporting the advocacy.

“We are one with the cause in informing the people about mental health and supporting children who are born with down syndrome,” he said.