L-R: Madeleine Schall, Marie Reyes, Louis Yau, former Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Beba Moreno Yau, Celeste Yau, & Kearia Yau
Jose “Pitoy” Moreno would have celebrated his 100th birthday this year, 2025. In honor of this momentous occasion and his legacy as a fashion icon, an exhibition in his honor titled Timeless: J. Moreno was unveiled. The grand opening took place at The M’s new venue in BGC on the evening of February 26, 2025, just one day after Moreno’s centennial birth anniversary.
Led by head curator Dr. Florina Capistrano-Baker with the assistance of Ditas Samson and Clarissa Esguerra, the exhibition highlights the life, career, and legacy of the Fashion Czar of Asia, Pitoy Moreno. After graduating from the Fine Arts program at the University of the Philippines, he rented his first studio on Taft Avenue and began his fashion career by making costumes for the Bayanihan Dance Company. What ultimately allowed Pitoy to reach his level of national and international recognition was not only his talent but his ability to sustain his relationships with established people in politics and high society. Thus, his designs became a symbol of high status and he became the face of local couture, a constant in Philippine fashion and culture.
The opening ceremony was attended by the late designer’s family, friends, and former clients, many of whom wore their own Pitoy-designed ternos. Among the attendees were Dr. Ramon Moreno, Beba Moreno Yau and family, Marie Luisa Moreno, and the designer’s nephews, Jimmy and Roland Cruz. Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was the evening’s guest of honor. Seated beside her were the US Ambassador Mary Kay Carlson and the wife of Japanese Ambassador, Endo Akiko, alongside representatives of the Jusi at Pina Legacy Foundation, the organizers of Timeless: J. Moreno.
The evening formally opened with the Bayanihan Dance Company performing the Singkil, followed by remarks from The M President Tina P. Colayco.
“Tonight, The M museum is delighted to continue this exciting thrust of art and design in fashion with TIMELESS J. MORENO here at our new location at Bonifacio Global City (BGC), in partnership with the Jusi and Piña Foundation… It is most timely and significant that we are all brought together here tonight to honor and celebrate one of the country’s iconic fashion designers of his time. Pitoy turned 100 yesterday, February 25,” remarked Tina P. Colayco, President, The Metropolitan Museum of Manila
L-R: Tina Colayco, former Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, & , Doris Ho
Former President Arroyo recounted her family’s connection to Pitoy Moreno. Dr. Ramon Moreno next took the stage to speak of his uncle’s legacy. Finally, head curator Dr. Nina Capistrano-Baker underlined the significance of the exhibition.
“The exhibition TIMELESS: J. Moreno presents fashion and dress as Art. You may notice this as you walk into the galleries, in the way the dresses are positioned, and treated with the same respect that we accord paintings and sculpture… Through this exhibition and the book of the same title that we launch tonight, we hope that, like his immortal phoenixes and cranes, Pitoy will live on in our memories for the next thousand years,” said Dr. Florina H. Capistrano-Baker, Head Curator
Bayanihan closed the program with another dance performance. As guests entered the gallery to marvel at the creativity, design flair and meticulous workmanship of Pitoy Moreno and his atelier of seamstresses, beadworkers and embroiderers, DJ Manolet Dario, himself the son of a Bayanihan dancer and Pitoy Moreno bride, took to the decks and played the music from the Pitoy era.
L-R: Madeleine Schall, Marie Reyes, Louis Yau, former Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Beba Moreno Yau, Celeste Yau, & Kearia Yau
Jose “Pitoy” Moreno would have celebrated his 100th birthday this year, 2025. In honor of this momentous occasion and his legacy as a fashion icon, an exhibition in his honor titled Timeless: J. Moreno was unveiled. The grand opening took place at The M’s new venue in BGC on the evening of February 26, 2025, just one day after Moreno’s centennial birth anniversary.
Led by head curator Dr. Florina Capistrano-Baker with the assistance of Ditas Samson and Clarissa Esguerra, the exhibition highlights the life, career, and legacy of the Fashion Czar of Asia, Pitoy Moreno. After graduating from the Fine Arts program at the University of the Philippines, he rented his first studio on Taft Avenue and began his fashion career by making costumes for the Bayanihan Dance Company. What ultimately allowed Pitoy to reach his level of national and international recognition was not only his talent but his ability to sustain his relationships with established people in politics and high society. Thus, his designs became a symbol of high status and he became the face of local couture, a constant in Philippine fashion and culture.
The opening ceremony was attended by the late designer’s family, friends, and former clients, many of whom wore their own Pitoy-designed ternos. Among the attendees were Dr. Ramon Moreno, Beba Moreno Yau and family, Marie Luisa Moreno, and the designer’s nephews, Jimmy and Roland Cruz. Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was the evening’s guest of honor. Seated beside her were the US Ambassador Mary Kay Carlson and the wife of Japanese Ambassador, Endo Akiko, alongside representatives of the Jusi at Pina Legacy Foundation, the organizers of Timeless: J. Moreno.
The evening formally opened with the Bayanihan Dance Company performing the Singkil, followed by remarks from The M President Tina P. Colayco.
“Tonight, The M museum is delighted to continue this exciting thrust of art and design in fashion with TIMELESS J. MORENO here at our new location at Bonifacio Global City (BGC), in partnership with the Jusi and Piña Foundation… It is most timely and significant that we are all brought together here tonight to honor and celebrate one of the country’s iconic fashion designers of his time. Pitoy turned 100 yesterday, February 25,” remarked Tina P. Colayco, President, The Metropolitan Museum of Manila
Former President Arroyo recounted her family’s connection to Pitoy Moreno. Dr. Ramon Moreno next took the stage to speak of his uncle’s legacy. Finally, head curator Dr. Nina Capistrano-Baker underlined the significance of the exhibition.
“The exhibition TIMELESS: J. Moreno presents fashion and dress as Art. You may notice this as you walk into the galleries, in the way the dresses are positioned, and treated with the same respect that we accord paintings and sculpture… Through this exhibition and the book of the same title that we launch tonight, we hope that, like his immortal phoenixes and cranes, Pitoy will live on in our memories for the next thousand years,” said Dr. Florina H. Capistrano-Baker, Head Curator
Bayanihan closed the program with another dance performance. As guests entered the gallery to marvel at the creativity, design flair and meticulous workmanship of Pitoy Moreno and his atelier of seamstresses, beadworkers and embroiderers, DJ Manolet Dario, himself the son of a Bayanihan dancer and Pitoy Moreno bride, took to the decks and played the music from the Pitoy era.
The exhibition runs until June 29, 2025.
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