The Upper Berth of the Manila Polo Club was darkened and transformed into a magical Mt. Makiling forest for the Friends for Cultural Concern of the Philippines (FCCP) annual fashion show and merienda last Tuesday.

The members and supporters of the FCCP arrived promptly at 3 p.m. in full Filipiniana, some with modern twists and turns. It was a fun fundraising afternoon of elegant, coiffed and corseted grand dames wearing serious jewelry, yes, Cartier, Bulgari, Buccellati and Van Cleef and Arpels.

This event was also a feast to fete Mellie Ablaza who was given a Lifetime Achievement Award. She wore a beautiful, vintage Steve de Leon. Nene Leonor was the other important recipient of a humanitarian award.

On the ramp were fashions by Tippi Ocampo, Patrice Ramos Diaz and innovative and sexy Lulu Tan Gan who blended piña with her trademark knits. The models were the doyennes of high society—matriarchs and wives of captains of industry with their equally empowered daughters who took to the ramp like seasoned mannequins.

Here are their portraits of poise and pulchritude taken at 3 p.m., the hour of greatest mercy.

PHOTOS BY ANDREW TADALAN