At Here Lies Love s Opening Night, Filipino Fashions Old and New Took Center Stage

Last Thursday, the Broadway Theater welcomed a diverse set of celebrities who showed up to support and celebrate the historic opening night of Here Lies Love, the first Broadway musical production with an all-Filipino cast and a majority of Filipino producers. The star, Arielle Jacobs, more accustomed to playing Disney princesses on Broadway, stepped into (very famous) shoes, playing the former first lady of the Philippines.

A number of people came in ternos—an outfit most distinctively marked by its shoulder and sleeve design—and this parade of butterfly sleeves on Broadway caused several passersby to stop and stare. “What is the significance of that sleeve?” someone asked. The terno has evolved over many years, influenced by global trends yet adapted for local use and made into our own, but the short answer is that it’s the Filipino (unofficial) national dress.

The terno makes an appearance midway in Here Lies Love, when Imelda Marcos rises to  power. The big sleeves have since been associated with the former First Lady, but in recent decades they have been reclaimed by everyday Filipinos in the Philippines and in the diaspora, who are remixing and modernizing them, wearing them as a symbol of Filipino pride and representation. The Vogue Philippines team in attendance wore the terno in different ways—as a punchy bolero over a Marchesa gown, as a casual oversized jersey shirt, and as an elegantly classic embellished piña blouse. It’s our way of wearing our hearts on our sleeves. — Audrey Carpio, Vogue Philippines Features Editor

Photo: Company of Here Lies LovePhoto: Jenny Anderson

Here Lies Love is ingenious and captivating. The Filipino energy was contagious. The entire house couldn’t resist this magic. From the cast to the audience, Club Millennium was transformed into a disco party. This musical is not only monumental for the Filipino community but also to the entire world. With its unique storytelling and staging—distinct from any other Broadway show—it has given us an immense opportunity to tell our narrative and to showcase Filipino talent. It was an honor for Vogue Philippines to be part of this trailblazing event. — Joyce Oreña, Vogue Philippines Beauty Editor