Long before Pacquiao, there was this global Filipina

2009 would be remembered as the year the Philippines honored a woman who was way ahead of her time
IF YOU WANT TO FEEL GOOD AS A Filipino—and who doesn’t?—even in a year of floods and massacres, see the Slim Retrospective at National Museum. You have until March to see this exhibit, truly world-class both as curatorial work and as a production.

While 2009 is known as another Pacquaio year, it should also be remembered as the year Philippine fashion paid tribute to Salvacion Lim Higgins (Slim), the designer who won global acclaim as early as the ’60s.

Her coffee-table book, “Salvacion Lim Higgins, Slim, Philippine Haute Couture 1947-1990)” was launched last November at National Museum, with the opening of retrospective exhibit of her clothes on 48 mannequins.

In 1964, at the New York World’s Fair where the Bayanihan was performing, the famous photographer Cecil Beaton went backstage after the performance because he wanted to see up close the Bayanihan’s Maria Clara-inspired costumes that were done in black and white. Beaton’s admiration was reported in media.

Lladro, the world-renowned Spanish porcelain brand, later issued a limited edition of the “Singkil” showing the Muslim princess in a costume designed by Slim.

The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, has in its collection a Slim jusi gown that belonged to former US First Lady Mamie Eisenhower. In 2004 Smithsonian included it in a rare traveling exhibit called “First Ladies: Political Role and Public Image,” alongside the works of fashion greats like Charles Worth. The jusi gown was presented to Mrs. Eisenhower by then Philippine First Lady Leonila Garcia on a state visit in 1958.

I met Salvacion Lim Higgins only once—the woman future generations would know popularly as “Slim” (or Slim’s, to refer to her school)—when I interviewed her about her fashion show. This must have been in the late ’70s—a very brief face time with her that hardly allowed me to know the woman.

But then, always having been lucky in career (provided it didn’t involve corporate political reptilians, that is), I had my second chance to really know this woman, the likes of whom could come only once in Philippine fashion.

It happened two years ago, when her children Sandy and Mark invited me to help document and review the career and contribution of their mother in Philippine fashion—indeed, the creative evolution that was her life—for a coffee-table book the two would produce this year

Source:Lifestyle.inquirer.net/

Travel Rush is Smooth for Many in DC

WASHINGTON, D.C. - While many expected long lines and frustrated passengers at D.C. area airports on Wednesday, this year's day-before-Thanksgiving travel rush appears to have been more like smooth sailing.

At Reagan National Airport, the closest thing to a line was for security. For many frequent fliers, it wasn't so bad. So what's behind the apparent good luck? Travel experts say air travel is down 5 percent this year over last, and that could have something to do with the economy.

Also, folks are getting smarter about when they travel, and they're not all waiting until the Wednesday before Thanksgiving to leave. Flights seemed to be on time with few delays, in part because of the good weather in the northeast corridor. But there are also fewer flights, leading to less congestion.

Many arriving passengers told FOX 2 it was smooth sailing cross country, and D.C. travelers were happy to report fewer hassles on their way out.

For those who hit the highway instead, most were already gone by Wednesday. According to AAA, most people did indeed travel by car.

Virginia State Police say if you're on the roads, they'll be doing tough enforcement on seat belts, speeding, and drunk driving laws to make your Thanksgiving travels safe.

Virginia State Police are also enforcing a 2-year-old law that's new to a lot of people-- the move over law. When you see an emergency vehicle stopped on the side of the road, you're supposed to slow down, proceed with caution and move over to an adjacent lane.

Failure to move over could land you a maximum penalty of $2,500 and a jail sentence of up to 12 months.

Things may not be as smooth on the return, as many people are expected to travel on Sunday and Monday when they head home from the holidays

Sourcemyfoxdc.com