Dennis Gasgonia

Article (news)

Francis Orcio

ABS-CBN News

The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF), in partnership with De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde through the Benilde Fashion Museum, opened a six-week educational exhibition that reexamines the iconic dresses of former First Lady Luz Banzon Magsaysay, wife of late President Ramon Magsaysay Sr.Titled &#x27;Magsaysay as Muse: Luz Banzon Magsaysay and the Terno as Cultural Identity&#x27;, the exhibition features eight &#x27;ternos&#x27; or dresses worn by Magsaysay&#x27;s wife, including seven pieces donated by their daughter Mila Magsaysay Valenzuela and one from the RMAF archives.For RMAF President Susanna B. Afan, the exhibit is as much about remembrance as it is about meaning. She explained that the initiative was conceived to honor both the designers and the values embodied by the former First Lady. “We wanted to give a platform for us to remember Ramon Valera and Aureo Alonzo along with so many of our very creative and talented designers and to make sure that their work is not forgotten but more importantly also to show what is the relationship of these gowns to Luz Banson Magsaysay,” Afan said.“And that was her love for Filipino products. As you know, President Ramon Magsaysay was the first Filipino president to wear a barong in his inauguration,&quot; she added. Five of the exhibited ternos were designed by National Artist Ramon Valera, whose innovations helped modernize the traditional baro’t saya into the now-iconic single-piece terno through the use of the zipper.Two were created by designer Aureo Alonzo, while the final piece is a rare presidential campaign terno from the foundation’s collection.Afan noted that Luz Banzon Magsaysay’s clothing choices were deliberate expressions of patriotism and support for Filipino craftsmanship, mirroring her husband’s advocacy for locally made attire. “For the most part, laging very serious ang mga pinag-uusapan namin dito. You know, whether sometimes it&#x27;s about poverty alleviation, it&#x27;s about providing education to children, and then of course healthcare at kung ano-ano pa,” she said.“This time, we just wanted to get into a more softer subject matter, which is fashion, but at the same time, not just the fashion part, but like let&#x27;s say the people behind the fashion, the weavers, the seamstress, the beaders,&quot; she added.To deepen public engagement, the exhibition is complemented by a series of free public lectures running from February through March. Afan stressed that the goal is to turn the exhibit into an ongoing dialogue rather than a static display.All activities are free and held at the Ramon Magsaysay Center, with walk-in visitors welcome.The partnership with the Benilde Fashion Museum was described by Architect Gerry Torres, the museum’s director, as a natural and meaningful collaboration rooted in shared history and collections.Torres said the idea emerged from recognizing the symbolic connection between the gowns and the venue itself.“This is not our first partnership with them. We already had a previous exhibit with them. But this one, I thought of this because I realized that the library is named after President Ramon Magsaysay,” Torres said “And I realized that we had the gowns of his wife given to us by their daughter, Mila Magsaysay Valenzuela,&quot; he added.Because of their age and fragility, the Luz Banzon Magsaysay ternos will only be displayed for six weeks before being returned to controlled storage for conservation. The exhibit runs from February 12 to March 27, 2026 at the Magsaysay Laureate Library and Museum inside the Ramon Magsaysay Center in Manila.<div> </div>

The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF), in partnership with De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde through the Benilde Fashion Museum, opened a six-week educational exhibition that reexamines the iconic dresses of former First Lady Luz Banzon Magsaysay, wife of late President Ramon Magsaysay Sr.

The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF), in partnership with De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde through the Benilde Fashion Museum, opened a six-week educational exhibition that reexamines the iconic dresses of former First Lady Luz Banzon Magsaysay, wife of late President Ramon Magsaysay Sr.

Historic dresses of Luz Banzon Magsaysay highlighted in ‘Magsaysay as Muse’ exhibit

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Historic dresses of Luz Banzon Magsaysay highlighted in ‘Magsaysay as Muse’ exhibit

Francis Orcio,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 13, 2026 01:02 AM PHT

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Ramon Magsaysay

Luz Banzon Magsaysay

De La Salle - College of Saint Benilde

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