MANILA, Philippines ? ?Fashion designers undergo a process of creation common to the arts. The new thrust of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) is to encourage the creative industries, of which fashion design is a part.?

Thus asserted Nestor Jardin, outgoing president of the CCP, in an interview.

?We want to show that art is not just entertainment, not just educational,? he said. ?The arts also contribute to the economy. That is why we are happy to support ?Face Off,? the Inquirer?s fashion show, by providing the venue and the services of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra.?

?Face Off? will showcase the creations of fashion designers Rajo Laurel, Randy Ortiz and Rhett Eala, with the PPO under resident conductor Agripino ?Nonoy? Diestro providing the music. It will be staged on Tuesday, 8 p.m., at the CCP. The show is directed by Jackie Aquino.

Filipino compositions

While the models are sashaying along the ramp, the PPO will play Filipino compositions, such as folk songs; an Eraserheads medley classically arranged by composer Ryan Cayabyab; native songs (?Mga Katutubong Awitin?) as arranged by National Artist Lucio D. San Pedro and Pizzicato Caprice by Francisco Buencamino.

During the transitions, the orchestra will play light Western classics such as ?Hooked on Classics? by Louis Clark; ?Buglers? Holiday? by Leroy Anderson; and ?The Pink Panther? theme by Henry Mancini.

?Normally fashion shows just have piped-in or background music,? Diestro noted. ?But this show is very different, very special, because national symphony orchestra will be providing the music.?

Many of the PPO instruments still need to be repaired or replaced. And, Jardin said, ?The CCP is taking great effort to repair or replace them. We are now in the final stage of negotiations with the San Miguel Corporation to buy a few instruments to replace our instruments in dire need of replacement.?

These instruments were once used by the late lamented San Miguel Philharmonic Orchestra.

Also continuing is the search for a new PPO music director and principal conductor. The field has been narrowed down to six: Robert Atchison, British; Oliver Ochanine, French-American; Leo Phillips, British; Ruggero Barbieri, Italian; Chi Kwan Yun, Korean; and Piero Gamba, Italian.

The PPO 2009-2010 season opens September 3. Except for laureate Oscar C. Yatco and Diestro, all the conductors are foreign. And the new music director will cap the season on April 15, 2010, with a ?repertoire by request gala.?

?Face Off? is presented by the Philippine Daily Inquirer (parent company of INQUIRER.net) with Samsung and the CCP. It has the support of HSBC and Via Venetto.