The name, “Philip Rodriguez” is as synonymous to Cebu fashion as Audrey Hepburn and Jackie O is to classic beauty. Blessed with an innate fine and impeccable taste, Philip was at first more inclined towards architecture or interior design. However, he chose to pursue a more pragmatic degree in Business Management from the University of the Philippines.

Coming from a family whose fabric connoisseurship is spanning for over three decades now, Philip managed their fabric specialty shop, Piere Angeli, straight out of college. While assisting clients in choosing fabrics, he ended up sketching and even executing designs for them. He then found himself having a growing list of satisfied and loyal clients and soon became a full-fledged designer, acknowledging the influence of Valentino, Chanel and Oscar de la Renta in his creations.

His feminine, luxurious designs especially for evening wear are extraordinary and timeless. No doubt a fashion icon, his collections are popular with the socialites, chic ladies, and young brides. He is also privileged to have dressed up on several special occasions the most respected dignitaries, the likes of whom are Her Excellency Madame President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Her Excellency Former President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino, Her Majesty Queen Lankhambule of Swaziland and His Royal Highness Prince Bolkiah of Brunei. Thus, the name Philip Rodriguez has become a byword for a lifestyle image of sophistication, class, and good taste.

Although his creations are considered classic pieces, they are by no means boring or unchanging. In fact, he is a visionary with a remarkable ability to take calculated risks. His clothes are always stylish and flattering, and strikingly memorable pieces worth more than a second glance.

Describing his clothes as modern classics, his ultimate goal is to create clothes that capture the personality, enhance the lifestyle and fit the physique of the wearer. The nicest thing about his outfits is they always delicately hide a body’s flaws while making great bodies look even more deliriously perfect.

Regarded as Cebu’s fashion czar, Philip Rodriguez is also famous for his exquisite Filipiniana collection. Thus, he has showcased Philippine fashion in numerous shows abroad such as Hongkong, Malaysia, Singapore, Korea, Taiwan , Guam and Hawaii. He takes pride in promoting the country through his collection of unique contemporary Philippine fashion. At the 1996 Miss Universe Pageant held in Manila, he made the Filipiniana gown of the winner, Miss India’s Sushmita Sen.

On top of his regular A-list clientele that’s still growing, Philip is the “most revered designer” to go for one’s dream wedding. His ability to develop expressive motifs and create outfits for a dazzling entourage while making the bride and groom shine and stand out as a couple are what set him apart from other designers.

Having a first peek at a limitless selection of the best fabrics definitely help, but more than anything, his success can be attributed to his natural eye for beauty, his instinctive good taste and his impeccable character. Balancing the passion and artistry of designing with the shrewdness and practicality of a businessman, he approaches his work with focus, discipline, professionalism and a great degree of personal attention to detail, which explains his loyal clientele and dedicated personnel.

He begins his day by checking on the progress of his workers, studying everything from the cutting of the cloth to the final beadwork of the gowns. He then spends a few hours in the morning as well as the afternoon attending to his clients. He also checks on the operations of his two other textile branches in the city and visits his limited edition ready-to-wear shop, Filippo at the Ayala Center Cebu and SM Northwing.

Designer Philip Rodriguez is also actively involved in socio-civic and cultural events. Currently the President for Fashion Council of Cebu, an association of Cebu’s top designers, he also headed local designers groups such as the Cebu Designers Guild and the Clothes for Life, Inc. Aside from this, he is a member of the Garments Business Association of the Philippines as well as the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry. As one of the Commissioners of the Cebu City Tourism Commission, he helps promote the tourism projects such as in the hosting of the 2007 ASEAN Summit and organizing the prestigious Miss Cebu pageant. This, along with his continuously evolving design masterpieces has earned him recently several awards such as the Perlas Awards, Mayors’ Awards, and not to mention the many awards he has received in the past.