You’d think an event that advocates breast cancer awareness would be a subdued affair.

But Fashion Can Serve began with polite applause and ended with whoops, shrieks and cheers as breast cancer survivors strutted, boogied and struck a pose down the runway in celebration of life, beauty and strength.

ICanServe Foundation, a nonprofit advocate of breast cancer awareness and early detection, gathered six of the country’s top fashion designers, who presented collections inspired by stories of courage of women who triumphed over the disease.

The night was made more special by breast cancer survivors who walked down the runway with their “breast friends”—friends and family members who provided emotional support as they battled cancer.

Designer Randy Ortiz’s collection, “Lourdes,” was a tribute to his mother, whose loss to cancer remains a “painful influence” in his life.

Actors Derek Ramsey and Iza Calzado joined Medical City doctors Catherine Yap-Asedillo and Erwin Alcazaren; businesswoman Carmen Araneta; breast cancer survivor and pediatrician Maria Lourdes Gozali and her daughter Kara, a medical student at University of Santo Tomas, in modeling Ortiz’s works.

Romantic designs

Dennis Lustico’s romantic designs were worn by survivor Bibeth Orteza and son Rafa Siguion-Reyna; cookbook writer Beth Romualdez and daughter Via Reyes; and Sun Life of Canada Philippines, Inc.’s Lorenza Huang, who walked on the ramp with actor Matteo Guidicelli.

Patrice Diaz said she wanted her graceful gowns to “reflect the strength of every courageous spirit.” Her clothes were worn by Zacarias 1925 creative director Rita Nazareno and Maxine Chua; director Olive Lamasan and Me’Anne Solomon, ICanServe’s Cebu regional head.

Two duos—sisters Frances Yu and Crickette Tantoco and sisters-in-law and cancer survivors Gaita and Malou Fores— donned Rosanna Ocampo-Rodriguez’s creations that celebrated “positivity, inner strength and resolve after emerging victorious.”

Patty Ang’s models were Miss World Megan Young and cousins Amanda Luym and Cacay Moras-Server. “My collection highlights the natural beauty of every woman,” Ang said.

Actor and painter Heart Evangelista, ICanServe president Tang Antonio-Singson and mother-daughter team Chuchu Madrigal and Alex Eduque exuded royalty in Mark Bumgarner’s designs.