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By LOUI GALICIA, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau 03/12/2009 7:35 PM
Tagged as the "pilot of fashion" by the Dutch Queen's Mistress of the Robes, Filipina Cora Jacob received approval and admiration for her bags during the opening of her exhibition at the Museum of Bags and Purses in Amsterdam.
Jacob flew in 300 bags from the Philippines that are on display at the world's largest museum of bags until May 3.
Most impressed, among the more than 100 guests who attended the opening, was the guest of honor, a member of the royal household of Holland's Queen Beatrix.
"I think Cora Jacob bags are extremely highly fashionable, highly original and made of absolutely incredible materials. I love them. They are very, very much haute couture, especially the evening bags," Mistress of the Robes Martine van Loon-Labouchere said.
The exhibition of Jacob's spring/summer collection is part of the celebration of the National Arts Month organized by the Philippine Embassy in the Netherlands.
"Gusto nating ipakita ang bags na made in the Philippines using Philippine materials so ito ay pagkakataon na hindi lamang mga kababayan makakita nito kundi mga tao mula sa ibat ibang bansa," Ambassador Romeo Arguelles said.
The high-quality bags made of buntal, capiz, bamboo, leather, raffia and other local Philippine materials are very unique.
Jacob said that her works of art always pass the delicate and rigorous hands of the women in the provinces in the Philippines, notably from her hometown in Bulacan.
Philippine identity
Her bags' colors depict the background and rich natural resources of the Philippines such as white for the pristine sands of Boracay, orange for the sun, green for the fields and farms, blue for the seas and brown for the mountains.
For Jacob, more than creating, it is her happiness to help raise the status of the industry of bag making in the Philippines.
"Tinutulungan namin ang mga kababayan sa mga probinsya sapagkat nanduon po sa probinsya ang lahat ng materyales. Gusto po namin ay matulungan ang mga kababayan natin na ang mga produktong yaring Pilipinas ay makarating sa iba't-ibang panig ng daigdig," Jacob said.
Jacob said that there is an abundance of raw materials in the Philippines but the problem lies in the lack of innovation and improvement.
Having worked for fashion giants such as Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, Nina Ricci and Givenchy, Jacob should know everything about quality craftsmanship.
Upgrading quality
With her family, Jacob established the Cora Cares Foundation in order to teach Filipinos how to increase the quality of their craft.
With her family, Jacob established the Cora Cares Foundation in order to teach Filipinos how to increase the quality of their craft.
"Para mas maraming tao ang matutong gumawa ng good quality. Dahil naniniwala kami kung maganda ang quality ng ginagawa nyo, hindi na kayo kailangang maghanap ng trabaho, hahanapin kayo ng trabaho," Jacob said.
"Noong una ako ay parang naliligayahan na yung mga high end, high couture sa Paris ay kinikilala ang likhang kamay ng Pilipino, although wala akong pangalan kundi yung brand nila, pero alam ko naman who I am, and because of that, I was already happy and pleased to serve the high-end line, hanggang later on, nagkaisip na ko na lagyag ng brand ko yung mga produkto ko na binebenta namin noon sa 21 countries," Jacob added.
For the Pinay who has already tasted life in the world of haute couture, it is now time to give back all the blessings she has received by sharing her knowledge to her countrymen, particularly the women.
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