MANILA, Philippines – Oliver Tolentino is a newbie to Manilans, yet he’s been around for some time. I’ve admired him for five years.

This time, he’s impressed us with yet another milestone—he’s opening on July 8 a boutique-atelier on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles—an area of the very rich and famous. It’s one block from Maxfield’s fashion flagship and right across Morton’s legendary resto (now called Cecconi’s) where Vanity Fair holds its annual after-Oscar party. In this neighborhood on Robertson Street are Dolce & Gabbana, 3.1 Philip Lim, Casi Armani.

Madonna, Lindsay Lohan, and a movie producer’s wife, Marjorie Bach, have been invited to cut the ribbon on opening night.

I saw the red carpet-ready gowns he was busy packing, as well as the daywear using local fabrics like abel Iloco, jusi, piña and ramie.

Tolentino starts his trunk show at Waldorf Astoria on Saturday night, then goes to Las Vegas, Texas and Los Angeles at Marriot Hotel in Century City.

His deft use of couture fabrics with the craziest prints and contrasting color combinations astounds me constantly. His design style is very Hollywood ’50s and ’60s which is high drama, with perfect fit and flair, beaded and re-embroidered.

His all-white bungalow atelier in San Lorenzo Village, Makati, is the site of two seasonal shows a year. He has made three ternos for Imelda Marcos for her 80th birthday yesterday, one in electric blue reminiscent of a Joe Salazar number.

His A-list clients include Tessa Prieto-Valdes, Lani Misalucha, Kuh Ledesma, Bettina Yaptinchay, banker Grace Tiongco and Maite Matute.

Oliver has left for the United States this week where he spends half a year with his partner Andrew Caruthers.

Oliver has also been invited by Greener than Green, an eco-friendly world advocate, a branch of Greenpeace, that aims to promote and save unique natural and sustainable fabrics and wovens such as mohair, cashmere, paper, cotton, linen and camel hair. He met its founder and president Gabrielle Christien and partner Christina Dean in Bali Fashion Week.

It was the piña or pineapple organza that wowed the other members of this global group. They didn’t know such a luxurious fabric existed. They are based in Hong Kong. Oliver will show his piña collection in Geneva on October 16 at the United Nations headquarters, in its third annual show and designer award presentation called Eco Chic Geneva. Other invited designers to this exciting show are Diane Von Furstenberg, Thakoon and John Rocha.

“This is the start of a most amazing journey. I will serve and promote our country’s rich reserve of talent, culture and savvy to the world’s retail and fashion stage,” said Tolentino.