Written and photographed

By Jude Bautista for full screen gallery click on link

No, I have not had the pleasure of meeting Jo Ann Bitagcol and Solenn Heusaff, even if I HAVE taken their pictures. I recall being able to interview Heart Evangelista a couple of times in the many premieres and TV show launches. But as writer and publisher of a blog, I have the privilege of using their first names as a headline.

The lovely Heussaf sisters during the Lulu Tan Gan show of the Fashion Watch Quartet series at Shangri La Makati, last February 26, 2008. Photo by Jude Bautista.

Looking for other older pics I ran across my photos of the Fashion Watch Quartet series held on February 26, 2008 at Shangri-La Makati. Perhaps because of the prestigious hotel even the guests are celebrities themselves apart from the designer: Lulu Tan Gan.

Tan Gan is able to update the terno and Filipiniana style into something modern, wearable and makes one proud to be Pinoy. Photo was taken during the Lulu Tan Gan show of the Fashion Watch Quartet series at Shangri La Makati, last February 26, 2008. Photo by Jude Bautista.

I’ve always been a huge fan of Jo Ann Bitagcol and these photos are evidence of that. It was at this time that Johanna Poblete of Business World was able to help me become a little bit more confident about writing (at least competently) on fashion. She summarized the important points as cut, color and material. I still wouldn’t consider myself confident in writing about fashion, (I usually write about film, music, sports).

Lulu Tan Gan’s Filipiniana inspired work brought out a different look with the star model: Jo Ann Bitagcol. In this show, Jo Ann became very Filipina; in other shows she looks very Chinese or Japanese. Photo was taken during the Fashion Watch Quartet series at Shangri La Makati, last February 26, 2008. Photo by Jude Bautista.

What I can say is that I appreciate the fact that Lulu Tan Gan’s Filipiniana inspired work brought out a different look on the star model: Jo Ann Bitagcol. In this show, Jo Ann became very Filipina; in other shows she looks very Chinese or Japanese. Click on this link to see what I mean. For me it’s amazing that Tan Gan is able to update the terno and Filipiniana style into something modern, wearable and makes one proud to be Pinoy. It definitely brought out the bright and out going Filipina look in Jo Ann.

Lulu Tan Gan’s Filipiniana inspired work brought out a different look on the star model: Jo Ann Bitagcol. In this show, Jo Ann became very Filipina; in other shows she looks very Chinese or Japanese. Photo was taken during the Fashion Watch Quartet series at Shangri La Makati, last February 26, 2008. Photo by Jude Bautista.

By now everyone knows that Jo Ann is a talented photographer as well. She recently did a fantastic photo shoot for an ad with Azkal stars Phil and James Younghusband. The football stars modeled clothes by Rhett Eala.

From left: Jo Ann Bitagcol w designer Lulu Tan Gan during the Fashion Watch Quartet series at Shangri La Makati, last February 26, 2008. Photo by Jude Bautista.

From left: Lulu Tan Gan, Businessman and film producer Louis Paul Heussaff and daughter Solenn during the Fashion Watch Quartet series at Shangri La Makati, last February 26, 2008. Photo by Jude Bautista.

Tweety De Leon was not modeling that day and yet she looks spectacularly hot. Photo was taken during the Lulu Tan Gan show of the Fashion Watch Quartet series at Shangri La Makati, last February 26, 2008. Photo by Jude Bautista.

Solenn Heusaff then was an apprentice or assistant designer of Lulu Tan Gan. This was way before her casting in GMA 7’s celebrity ‘Survivor’ or ‘My Valentines Girl’ film with Richard Gutierrez. Solenn could have had a future as a designer if she chose to. She has that creativity and willingness to work at it. Her father Louis Paul Heussaff is a French film producer and business man. Among the guest list at Shangri La Makati are even more lovely faces: Heart Evangelista and Tweety De Leon.

Heart is caught on the cell during the Lulu Tan Gan show of the Fashion Watch Quartet series at Shangri La Makati, last February 26, 2008. Photo by Jude Bautista.

The lovely Heussaf sisters during the Lulu Tan Gan show of the Fashion Watch Quartet series at Shangri La Makati, last February 26, 2008. Photo by Jude Bautista.