In 2019, we got to see our favorite Kapamilya celebrities cladded in stylish ternos, Maria Claras, and their respective takes on the traditional women’s outfits on September 14, as that year’s edition of the ABS-CBN Ball carried the Modern Filipiniana theme to jive with the media company’s 65th anniversary celebration held at the Shangri-La The Fort in Taguig City.
And as we look forward on seeing who among our favorite stars are going to sashay down the red carpet in the much-awaited comeback of the ABS-CBN Ball this coming September 30, let’s relive how some of the female celebrity attendees that year mesmerized us in their elegant and beautiful “Modern Filipiniana” ensembles.
Let us start with the Gen Z stars, who were able to keep pace with their older colleagues when it comes to slaying on the red carpet.
Julia Barretto was among the stars then who stuck by the classic as she appeared dainty in a backless beaded white terno. The same with Jayda Avanzado and Kira Balinger who were both literally shining in their respective silver ternos, while Ylona Garcia lit the red carpet in a two-piece spangled gold ensemble with butterfly sleeves and sharply cut hems on its top.
Barbie Imperial made the whole place shimmer in a bejeweled pink Maria Clara, while Heaven Peralejo enthralled us in an elaborate abaniko-inspired strapless yellow ball gown. Alexa Ilacad then adhered to the motif by putting on a frock that was a fusion of Barong Tagalog and terno that featured intricate embroideries, pearl embellishments, collar, butterfly sleeves, and thigh-high slit.
Janella Salvador paraded in a lavish beige ball gown with deep-V lapel dress with voluminous pleated skirt and fanciful bishop sleeves, while her co-star Jane de Leon kept it simple in a simple gray Maria Clara dress.
Francine Diaz and Andrea Brillantes also shone bright like diamonds that night. Francine wore a two-piece number comprised of a fully-beaded long-sleeved top with a voluminous powder pink ball skirt, while Andrea displayed her morena glow in a one-shoulder peach gown with dotted lace overlay.
AC Bonifacio, meanwhile, had a really modern and Gen Z take on the Modern Filipiniana by wearing a preppy off-white mini dress with corset bodice, mesh puffed sleeves, and tulle skirt extension.
The millennial stars, of course, made sure to make heads turn as they walked down the red carpet of the ABS-CBN Ball 2019. The Iron Heart actress Sue Ramirez’s sparkling form-fitting mesh gown with thigh-high slit and see-through long butterfly sleeves was indeed one of the most talked about outfits that night. Chie Filomeno’s silver-laden gray terno also had the same fate as netizens made a buzz about how its sweetheart bodice tightly hugged her on the chest.
Miles Ocampo, Kathryn Bernardo, and Jane Oineza enthralled us with their respective presence, too. Miles came in a black and pink pantsuit with exaggerated sleeves that resembled roses and a low-cut neckline, Kathryn paraded in a bedazzled form-fitting fuchsia pink terno, while Jane was in a form-fitting black mermaid dress with sweetheart neckline and butterfly sleeves.
Shaina Magdayao was really ravishing and classy in an old rose satin long gown with sweetheart neckline and puffed long sleeves. Kim Chiu’s bedazzled white trumpet gown, which became the subject of memes after the star-studded affair, featured long sleeves, too.
Ria Atayde arrived in a strapless white column frock with floral appliques and ruffle details connected to the skirt, while Bela Padilla kept it simple yet sophisticated by wearing a long-sleeved white dress with thigh-high slit. Another beauty to sashay in white was Arci Muñoz, who was entrancing in her deconstructed terno with a thigh-high slit and a corset.
“Queen of Hugot Songs” Moira Dela Torre dazzled in a beaded red terno with sweetheart neckline, while It’s Showtime host Jackie Gonzaga marked her ABS-CBN Ball debut in a knee-length pink Filipiniana with beads and embroideries on its bodice and butterfly sleeves. And after strutting in an edgy outfit in the previous year, Nadine Lustre opted for a relatively modest outfit in 2019 by putting on a beaded red terno with thigh-high slit.
Let us then move on to the proud careerwo-moms and happily married celebrities who all still have what it takes to have show-stopping entrances to the red carpet – starting off with single moms Denise Laurel and Jodi Sta. Maria. Denise rocked a faux full bangs that she paired with an off-shoulder black sweetheart frock, while Jodi let her long straight hair down as she marched in a two-toned black pantsuit with appliques on its bodice and butterfly sleeves and a big bow on her right waist.
Magandang Buhay momshie-host Melai Cantiveros was among those who opted for a white number to the annual gala as she wore a pantsuit with asymmetrical sweetheart neckline and butterfly sleeves. Her co-host Jolina Magdangal, on the other hand, perked up in her fuchsia pink terno with ruched skirt that she punctuated with a bejeweled headband.
Meanwhile, seasoned actresses Meryll Soriano, Judy Ann Santos, and Nikki Valdez all appeared in black ensembles. Meryll was cladded in a floor-length black shirt dress with elongated butterfly sleeves and white tassel detail at the lower part of its skirt, while Nikki picked a two-piece black and gold ensemble with butterfly sleeves and a slit cut above the knee. Primetime Drama Queen Judy Ann, who donned an off-shoulder black dress with thigh-high slit and large ruffled sleeves, chose to auction off her OOTN (outfit of the night) after the party to further extend financial aid to the Bantay Bata Foundation.
Far from her vibrant personality, Anne Curtis went for a muted color for her ABS-CBN Ball 2019 look. The It’s Showtime mainstay captivated us in a gray mesh terno with oversized butterfly sleeves and tiered skirt that she topped off with an eye-catching fascinator of the same hue.
Beauty Gonzalez and Karylle, meanwhile, both shone in their sleek and super modern platinum OOTNs. Beauty really made a statement in her “freedom dress” inspired by the Philippine eagle, while Karylle sported a pantsuit with huge puff sleeves that was part of a cloak.
Apparently, red was the color of the night for celeb moms Kaye Abad, Dimples Romana, and Angelica Panganiban during that glitzy affair. Kaye dared to bare a little bit of more skin through her off-shoulder red dress with voluminous sleeves, while Angelica just kept it simple yet classy in a red terno dress with floral appliques embroideries that cascaded to its voluminous skirt. Embodying her now-iconic character Daniela Mondragon from the highly successful series Kadenang Ginto, Dimples arrived in a bright red pant suit.
Aside from these seasoned and talented actresses, there were also beauty queens their age who graced the charity ball, such as Pia Wurtzbach and Bianca Manalo. The Miss Universe 2015 titleholder put on a daring leopard print terno that showed off her flat tummy, while the Binibining Pilipinas-Universe 2009 paraded in a bold red asymmetric Filipiniana with voluminous ruffles at its back.
The one and only Diamond Star Maricel Soriano attended in an floor-length black off-shoulder frock, while Angel Aquino showed up in a pantsuit that featured feminine version of barong with puffed sleeves as top and grey pants as bottom.
With the ABS-CBN Ball 2023 fast-approaching, we couldn’t help but be thrilled to see how our favorite female celebrities will sashay on the red carpet this coming September 30!
Apart from being a star-studded night of glitz and glamour, the upcoming ABS-CBN Ball 2023 will also put the spotlight on the stories of thanksgiving, togetherness, and hope shared by Kapamilya artists, employees, partners, and collaborators, who all share the vision of delivering stories that promote human good to our dear audiences. Moreover, it will also aim to raise funds for the benefit of the ABS-CBN Foundation.