BAGUIO CITY – The City Social Welfare and Development Office and KALIPI Baguio proudly held the Eco Fashion Show at the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center, where forty-six contestants wowed the crowd with eco-friendly outfits made from recycled materials.
The panel of judges included Ms. Lucia B. Ruiz, OIC-MES; PSMS Jiford W. Sumcad; and Rachelle Anne N. Montaya, Tourism Officer II. The winners of the 2025 Eco Fashion Show were announced, with the grand champion being Carmelita F. Sumerbang from Barangay San Luis. The first runner-up was Aliyah Guinevere G. Ringor from Salud Mitra, followed by Donna T. Anodon from Loakan Apugan as second runner-up. Catherine B. Paquito from Irisan and Milagros Bacani from East Modernsite secured the third and fourth runner-up positions, respectively.
We got a word from the competition’s grand champion, Carmelita F. Sumerbang—a single mother of five representing Barangay San Luis of Baguio. She shared the inspiration behind her costume, saying, “Ang highlight po, yung skirt, yung downwear… minsan po, galing sa probinsya, binibigay ng mga kapatid ko. Pinapadala nila. So, inisip ko, sayang naman po yun. Ang balak po namin, papabulukin sana para sa mga halaman. For composting sana. For God’s will siguro, hindi ko nailagay sa pag-composting hall.” She added, “Parang plano talaga ni God na sumali ako dito.”
She also commented on the importance of Baguio’s zero waste management efforts, saying, “Maganda nga po, kasi, inaano po namin yung zero waste management ng Baguio, lalo na sa mga kasama namin sa KALIPI from Baguio City. Talagang ine-endorse namin na sana, kahit pa-paano, maayos natin yung pagdami ng basura, kasi sumusobra na siya.”
When asked what she believed made her costume stand out and win, she explained, “Tingin ko, ako yung kakaiba. Galing sa basura ang nagamit, and then, nature. Nagsama ang nature tsaka basura.”
As the curtains closed on this year’s Eco Fashion Show, the event not only celebrated creativity and style, but also echoed the growing call for environmental responsibility. Through efforts like this, the city continues to empower its communities—especially women—to lead by example in the movement for sustainability. By Gian Laddit
