BEVERLY HILLS??I?M STILL awestruck. I feel like I?m in a dream,? Oliver Tolentino admitted after he and eight other designers were about to be introduced to the fashion and entertainment press as the finalists in the ?Oscars Designer Challenge 2010.?

The Filipino designer said, ?I, a province boy who grew up in little Orani, Bataan, am at the Academy headquarters before the international press for the presentation of my gown that might be worn on the stage of the Oscars? Someone should pinch me!? Oliver stood beside his gown entry, draped on a hanger, which is an ivory piña (pineapple fabric) and abaca fiber mermaid gown with freshwater pearl detail.

Exquisite creation

Reporters and photographers admired Oliver?s exquisite creation. We heard Oliver extol the beauty and quality of our piña and abaca fabrics to every journalist who interviewed him. TV star Carson Kressley couldn?t help but admire the black abaca blazer that Oliver wore (his own creation). ?I want one!? said Carson.

The other finalists also showed off their entries: Fernanda Carneiro, Phong Hong, Oday Shakar and Ari Sheuhmelian of Los Angeles; Elda De La Rosa, Chicago; Kelsy Zimba and Ivy Higa, New York; and Rania Salibi, Phoenix. A quick online check of their websites or bios revealed equally impressive professional credentials. The winning gown, to be determined by online voting, will be worn by one of the awards escorts onstage at the Academy Awards on March 7, while its designer and his guest will get to attend the prestigious show.

The Academy building?s lobby was transformed into a red carpet runway for the morning event. Patty Fox, the Oscars? fashion coordinator, introduced the finalists one by one. This time, LA?s top models wore the gowns. Oliver?s entry came to life, so to speak, on Talesha, who also wore real bling by Martin Katz?an 8-row bracelet and tassel drop earrings, dripping in diamonds. The jewelry pieces worn by all the models were on display before the runway event but they were under the watchful eye of security guards.

Later, Oliver shared with us his thoughts on the event. First, he explained how he came up with the gown. ?The Oscar night is all about drama and I wanted to create a dramatic gown,? he said. ?It also usually takes a long time and a lot of effort for someone to reach the level of receiving an Oscar. I wanted a dress that requires a lot of time and effort. I think when someone sees my gown, they will realize and appreciate how much hard work and creativity went into it.?

The designer who splits his time between LA and Manila narrated his first meeting with fellow finalists: ?We met for the first time at a studio in downtown LA last Sunday. When I walked in, all the dresses were hanging in a row so it was a little intimidating. But the designers were very friendly and I instantly made friends and want to keep in touch. It was a very international group with designers from various cultural backgrounds.?

Of the model the Academy picked to wear his gown, Oliver gushed, ?I loved Talesha as soon as she walked in the room. She had the dramatic walk that I wanted and feel an Oscar gown should have. I hope she?s good luck because when she put on the dress for the first time, she whispered in my ear, ?We?re going to win!??

Laughing, he shared what he told Talesha as his final instruction before the stunning African-American glided on the runway: ?I told her she just won the Oscar and better go get it before someone takes it away!?

Oliver revealed that throughout the event, he felt patriotic. ?It may sound corny but I was thinking more about being so proud to be a Filipino and hoping I would make my country proud by being there,? he declared.

Call for support

Oliver is appealing to his kababayans and friends around the world to vote for him.

?There?s a part of me who wants people to vote for my gown but only if they really think it is the most deserving to appear on the Oscar stage,? he said. ?There?s another part of me who is dying to see piña being worn across the Oscar stage for the first time, no matter what! I have no idea how many people vote online, but I do hope that people will be motivated to take the time to vote. There?s one vote per day for every registered e-mail address so if people really like my gown, I hope they will vote until March 1!?

To vote, go to Oscar.com, the official website of the Academy Awards, where you can see footage of the gowns. Anyone over 18 can register once a day through 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time (US) on March 1, when the voting period ends.

E-mail the columnist at rvnepales_5585@yahoo.com.