Creating gowns or vestments for saints has been one of young fashion designer Erick Valena’s commitments or religious vows.
Together with iconic haute couture czar Albert Figueras, Erick has ventured into making exquisite garbs for religious icons.
The latest religious image Valena—with the support of his mentor Figueras--did was the gown of Santa Veronica, a widow from Jerusalem who offered to wipe with a piece of cloth the bloodied face of Jesus Christ on his way Calvary and his image was miraculously imprinted on the facecloth.
“Panata ko rin ito tuwing Holy Week at sa kamatayan din ni Ate (This is my vow during Lent and to pay homage to the death of Older Sister by affinity) Lily Arriero,” said Erick who referred to the elder sister by blood of this columnist.
On Good Friday, Santa Veronica with the sartorial touch of Valena was a significant participant in the procession around the parish of the Most Holy Rosary Church in Lopez town in the province of Quezon, a territory with the CALABARZON region..
“I chose lavender or lilac as the color because it was the shade of St. Veronica’s image in my research,” explained Erick.
Aside from doing dresses for saints and other religious icons, Valena is also the designer of movie, TV and theater stars that included the late Pilita Corrales.
#WeTakeAStand #OpinYon #OpinYonNews #GoodFridayProcession #StaVeronica