OBRA MAESTRA BENEFIT GALA IN INTRAMUROS: A Heritage Pageantry of Philippine Carnival Queens

HISTORY shall shimmer once more on December 3, 2025, when the storied walls of Intramuros awaken to the grand spectacle of the Obra Maestra Benefit Gala in Intramuros: A Heritage Pageantry of Philippine Carnival Queens.

Set against the iconic backdrop of Foro de Intramuros on Anda street in Intramuros, Manila, this landmark event promises an experience of timeless elegance, cultural pride, and artistic brilliance — a luminous celebration of Filipino creativity and heritage.

True to the holiday spirit of giving, the gala is a fundraising event in partnership with the Intramuros Administration and NINE TWO EIGHT Art Gallery. Proceeds will benefit the Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation and Cincture, Patroness of Intramuros; the Contemplative Benedictine Nuns of the Shrine of Perpetual Adoration in Mexico, Pampanga; and the Girl Scouts of the Philippines, whose Honorary National President is First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos.

In 2018, award-winning cultural impresario Zardo A. Austria co-produced and staged Marawing Salamat: The Best of Opera and Fashion for Marawi at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. That production became an unforgettable cultural milestone — a union of Philippine fashion, music, and patriotism that brought aid and awareness to war-torn Marawi. In Marawing Salamat, Austria, conceptualized a fashion segment that resurrected the splendor of Manila’s forgotten Carnival Queens — the dazzling heroines of the pre-war Philippine Carnivals that once crowned beauty with intellect, grace, and national identity. He also required his guests to come in Filipiniana formal gowns, reviving an age of glamour long lost to time. Over 30 of the country’s top designers dressed their muses and models in the finest Filipiniana designs, transforming the CCP Main Theater into a living tableau of national pride. That daring vision sparked a renaissance. The Filipiniana — once confined to nostalgic exhibits — regained its rightful place on the grand stage of fashion.

Austria’s Obra Maestra series, born from that same creative fire, went on to capture the nation’s imagination, earning more than ten awards and finalist nominations from the prestigious Aliw Awards for Best Special Events Production and Best Creative Direction. Now, seven years later, Austria returns to the realm of pageantry and myth with a concept even more breathtaking — a revival of the Philippine Carnival Queens’ opulent history intertwined with the mystic deities of Filipino folklore.

● GODDESSES OF FILIPINO MYTH & MAJESTY

In this grand retelling, the legendary queens of yesteryear will be reimagined as divine embodiments of Philippine nature and mythology:

☆ THE TERRESTRIAL GODDESS (Diyosa ng Kalikasan): Inspired by Maria Makiling and the Diwata ng Kagubatan, she reigns over flora and fauna, draped in emerald silks and woven abaca — symbolizing the fertility and mystery of the land.

☆ THE SEA GODDESS (Diyosa ng Karagatan): Echoing the spirit of Magwayen, the Visayan sea deity, she commands the depths in azure blues and pearls, representing the life-giving waters that cradle the archipelago.

☆ THE CELESTIAL GODDESS (Diyosa ng Kalangitan): A heavenly figure reminiscent of Mayari, the Tagalog moon goddess, she embodies the cosmic dance of stars and light — her gown adorned with constellations and moonlit filigree.

☆ THE GODDESS OF FIRE AND METAL (Diyosa ng Apoy at Metal): Evoking Oryol of Bicol and the spirit of the blacksmith gods of Mindanao, she blazes forth in molten hues of gold, amber, and crimson — symbolizing strength, transformation, and resilience. Each goddess will be portrayed through spectacular haute couture masterpieces created by the nation’s talented couturiers, interpreting mythology through fashion, music, and movement.

● AN OCCASION OF CULTURE, CHARITY & CREATIVITY

The Obra Maestra Benefit Gala is not merely a show — it is a movement that celebrates the Filipino soul in its most beautiful forms. The affair will open with an art exhibition and the book launch of Zardo Austria’s latest magnum opus, "Obra Maestra: Threads of Power, Silhouettes of Heritage, Weaves of Filipino Soul." This new coffee table book continues Austria’s lifelong passion for documenting Filipino artistry and cultural elegance.

The program will also be highlighted by the prestigious 2nd Obra Maestra Awards, recognizing excellence in arts, design, and architecture — honoring those who elevate the Filipino identity through innovation and design inculturation. Guests will then be treated to a charity dinner followed by a cultural fashion gala, featuring a seamless fusion of Kundiman and OPM music, and Philippine high fashion — a sensory odyssey through time, legend, and imagination.

● BE PART OF HISTORY. Witness the REBIRTH of the CARNIVAL QUEENS. Celebrate the GODDESSES of our LAND.IMMERSE yourself in the GLORIOUS JOURNEY of the OBRA MAESTRA BENEFIT GALA IN INTRAMUROS!