Benjie S. Manuel was born in Malaybalay City in Bukidnon and was raised in Butuan. His passion started when he was a kid, that time he started making his own sketches. At first, it wasn’t really his dream to become a designer, as he was more into dancing. “It was my classmate who wanted to become a designer”, he said.
Before, he had organized, managed, choreographed a dance group; and they used to perform in dance clubs in Butuan. In Ticotico, a dance club in Butuan, he learned he had a talent for spinning records and eventually became one of the club’s DJs for a year. He had experienced whole nights where he spins music alone. Even an instance when a customer point gun at him because of a particular song he played that the customer would loved to be kept on played again, and again. During his DJ career he was working on a club with wide screen that would play music videos and fashion shows. And on that point he enjoyed watching the catwalk, particularly the video “Portfolio”.
He adored seeing people in beautiful clothes; because in his High School years, he just survived with pre-owned uniforms to party outfits. Inspired, his designer dreams became more evident when he started designing and creating couture costumes for his dance troupe. But still only few believed in him when it comes to designing. He had very supportive parents; in fact his mom learned sewing and made it their family business. His lola [grandmother] was even one of his first custoreras [Spanish term for female sewer]. He began self studying, skimming and scanning through local magazines to learn and get more design inspirations.
And ever since that time, he pursued it - the designer dream. He made more sketches and sent some of it to national publications. Thus in summer of 1988, two of his sketches were published on pages of Woman Today and Woman’s Home Companion. And some continued to appear even in the 90’s.
In the year 1991, Benjie moved to Cagayan de Oro City to start up his fashion design business. His first shop was in an an apartment near Gaston Park. Starting up a business wasn’t easy, as he was faced with no capital. But his eagerness and aggressiveness pushed him to find ways.
On the later years of his designer career, he moved his shop to a place in Divisoria. It was small at first until a space at the second floor of the current Barkadahan was vacated, then he moved again. He said it was a challenge moving to Divisoria, as it opened him up to strangers and new clients that he will need to entertain and at the same time to get to know.
From local, Benjie went national as he joined the Philippine Fashion Week.
His designer journey wasn’t really that smooth. Benjie faced a lot of challenges on the start of his designer career. He started his own business with no capital; his aggressiveness acquired him plenty of debts. Like many designers, he also suffered years of reconstructions and repaying. Entertaining and dealing with strangers was a challenge for him as he was growing his pool of clientele. Three years ago, he dealt a tragic incident when his store in Divisoria, Cagayan de Oro City was burned down to ashes. But these challenges never stopped him on fulfilling his dreams and goals. He took these challenges as building blocks and learning appetite.
Today, Benjie is one of the most sought after designers based in Cagayan de Oro City. His collections boast a dramatic perfectionism with a generously materialize outfits in the runway. Outfits from minimalistic to extremes. And soon he, together with four other designers, will conquer the runways of America.
How do you define the word “FASHION”?
Fashion is an attitude. It all depends on the wearer. For a person to wear a BSM one must always have a positive attitude. An open mind and a sunny disposition.
If you were not a designer today, who could be Benjie S Manuel?
I could either be a sari-sari store owner in a remote area in the outskirts or exploring the world of advertising in a big city who works part time as a club dj.
What inspires the designs of Benjie S Manuel?
I’m inspired with all genres of Music except metal or anything rock, and also with Old Fashioned Movies like “Gone with the Wind”, “The King and I”, New movies like “Gattacca” and “The Devil wears Prada”.
How do you see the future of Fashion Industry in Mindanao 25 years from now?
That would be the 28th year of the Mindanao Fashion Summit. That would be generating plenty of income and livelihood directly and indirectly to many Mindanaoans.
The availability of Fashion Schools brought lots of new and aspiring designers; that are looking forward to become like you, what are your tips for them?
Never focus on the glamour and prestige of being a designer. Focus on the basic designing skills. Even marketing is nothing if you do not have something good to sell. I always believe in pagandahan ng gawa. I had my mistakes and misses from the past, I learned from them and I have moved on from then. In this field we all learn along the way but it’s better to learn more from the ones who are already there.
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| Gold Vinyl Iron Printed Gown showcases the glamorous culture of the Northern Mindanao during the recent Mindanao Fashion Summit held at the Limketkai Center. You can check out more of Benjie Manuel's creations during the MFS by clicking here. |
What’s the inspiration behind the creation of the “Sa Mindanaw” collection?
It was conceptualized in the 90s. I made proposals to local government entities but it did not got an approval. Even on the last minute of the summit, I asked for help; but only the Facebook friends responded. I wanted to find my identity as a Mindanaoan that’s why it was born. I did research about Bukidnon, Butuan, Marawi and Iligan. The concept of the collection is using modern fabrics with the colors and patterns of Mindanao. The idea that indigenous materials can’t be placed in washing machines made me think it might lose the global appeal so I stick with the modern fabrics and modern technology; besides some designers already did the indigenous thing before. My main motive is to present this collection outside the country. God-willing.
