Binibini No. 04 Patrizia Mariah Garcia is representing the City of Manila at the competition and her national costume is ‘Santo Niño de Tondo’ and was designed by Chico Estiva.
Chico explains the costume depicts and is inspired by the image of the Child Jesus, Santo Niño where a double-coned skirt in red with grid and swirl embossed lace detailing in gold, below a body-hugging corset silhouette. The butterfly sleeves of the costume make it look even more dramatic with a framework baculo embedded with gold lace and crystals. A crown, neckpiece and a sceptre fashioned out of acrylic and glass crystals completes the entire look.
(Photography: Raymond Saldaña)