The death of Ben Farrales, the dean of Philippine fashion has brought gloom to the entire entertainment industry.
Farrales was known to be a generous and kind guru to all fellow and budding designers. He was always willing to share his knowledge and resources in the fashion industry he represented.
THE local fashion world is mourning again.
After the sudden demise of internationally acclaimed designer Rocky Gathercole when he collapsed in his Quezon City bathroom, the Dean of Philippine Fashion Ben Farrales bid the world adieu at 89.
Farrales, endearingly addressed by his younger colleagues, models, fans, the Manila wear community and the press as Mang Ben (a term of respect to an older man), Farrales was known to be a generous and kind guru to all fellow and budding designers.
He was always willing to share his knowledge and resources in the fashion industry he represented.
Even the late Goullee Gorospe said he was tutored by Ben in his craft when he was still new in the business. “Hindi maramot si Mang Ben. Para siyang tatay ko (Ben wasn’t selfish. He was like a dad to me),” Goullee once exclaimed.
Ben was respected by his peers from Inno Sotto to Rajo Laurel, by his clients from Nora Aunor to Melanie Marquez, by beauty queens from Pilar Pilapil to Marina Benipayo, by the multimedia from Ricky Lo to Danny Vibas.
The many times this writer met and talked with him Mang Ben was the epitome of coolness and class. He never said a single word of animosity to anyone.
Actress Divina Valencia recalled the first time she had an audience with Farrales was when Sampaguita Pictures’ doyenne Marichu Vera-Perez
Maceda accompanied her to the designer’s Malate atelier for the making of her bikini pieces to be worn in the film “Seksi Yata ‘Yan,” Divina’s first project for Dr. Jose Perez’s studio. “You made me a 24-set of bikinis for different scenes,” noted Valencia.
Divina added that her first runway experience was with Mang Ben at the Ideal Theater.
The erstwhile bombshell recounted a funny anecdote. “Because of my being naïve before, he’d send me a big white box. There’s only a cocktail dress that he intended to do for me. I didn’t know I had to pay for it, Lol),” chuckled Valencia.
“I know you are happy in endless worship to our God of Love. It’s an honor then and now that before you said goodbye in this world I was able to wear your creations,” she eulogized.