Laro ng Lahi
THE
GOLDEN THREAD
by Avel Bacudio at SEA Games 2025
Laro ng Lahi
“Ever Forward” with Piñavel
12 December 2025
Model/athletes Ricci Rivero and Majoy Baron wear the “Laro ng Lahi” collection of Avel Bacudio
limited-edition tote bags
accents for the barong Tagalog;
embroidery details and a special black ribbon as tribute for the recently departed Queen Mother Sirikit.
Styling Assistants: Reymark Escarin and Aldrin Nazzarea
MakeUp: Patrik Alcober
Videography: Jerick Alcancia)
THE GOLDEN THREAD
Visionary designer and avid sports advocate Avel Bacudio, in time for his Gintong Sinag show in March 2025, wrote a love letter to Filipino athletes:
Photos: GERALD PINGOL
“Sa bansang Pilipinas at sa ating mga atletang Pilipino mula noon, hanggang ngayon, hangad na magbigay ng karangalan sa bansang sinilangan, at hindi susuko kailanman para sa medalyang ginto, sa ating mga henerasyon ngayon ‘wag tayong susuko, hindi hadlang ang hirap at kapos sa buhay para sa gintong pangarap, ipagpatuloy natin ang ating adhikain na iwagayway ang bandila sa larangan ng palakasan at isports sa buong mundo. Mabuhay kayong lahat at hangad sa bawat isa sa inyo ang tagumpay... dahil ang tagumpay ninyo ay tagumpay ng bawat Pilipino.”
The showcase, held at the Plaza Mexico in the Intramuros Esplanade, was Bacudio’s tribute to and support for the National Sports Academy, an institution for underprivileged youth who want to get into sports.
It was this luxe athleisure collection that attracted the attention of Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, who tapped Bacudio to create the ensembles of Team Philippines for the opening ceremony of the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand on December 9.
“I am so grateful to Bambol that he listened, and supported my advocacy wholeheartedly,” Bacudio said.
Together with the POC and the Philippine Sports Commision, they aim to achieve a brilliant dual mandate: securing gold for the Philippines’ elite athletes while empowering and sustaining communities of Filipino artisans nationwide.
LARO ng LAHI
Bacudio waxes nostalgic with this patriotic collection, harking back to his humble and idyllic childhood in Buhi, Camarines Sur.
“I am deeply inspired by our old Filipino games—the vibrant, physical contests that once defined our childhood, played outdoors before technology shifted the landscape of our youthful interaction,” Bacudio reflected. “It is a tribute to that joy, the kinetic energy, and the powerful community spirit fostered by games like tumbang preso, trumpo, luksong baka, yoyo, luksong tinik, patintero, piko, luksong lubid, sipa, luksong kalabaw, and syato.”
These juvenile games are depicted in dainty embroidery in the barong Tagalog, as worn by Philippine Basketball Association player Ricci Rivero and Majoy Baron of the Philippine National Women's Volleyball Team.
Tolentino, who shared the vision for the collection with Bacudio, handpicked tennis sensation Alexandra Eala and volleyball pillar Bryan Bagunas as the flag bearers for Team Philippines in the parade of athletes at the opening ceremony at the Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok.
At the biennial, multi-sports event, the Philippines will compete against Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Brunei, Laos and newest member Timor Leste.
Team Philippines is reportedly sending its biggest delegation, with over 1,600 athletes, coaches, and officials to Thailand from December 9 to December 20.
But only about 200 to 300 athletes will join the opening parade, wearing their culture, their future, and their pursuit for gold in Bacudio’s ensembles.
TROPICAL FABRIC FORECAST
The theme of the 33rd SEA Games is “Ever Forward.” In a serendipitous way, Bacudio’s collection introduces the future of tropical textile: the Piñavel fabric. A sustainable, high-performance textile that is an environmental and technical triumph, it was developed in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI).
“I used a breakthrough blend of indigenous fibers such as bamboo, pineapple, abaca, banana, and water hyacinth. The result is a fabrication that is both featherlight and resilient, moving far beyond mere tradition to become a truly competitive, high-tech textile,” explained Bacudio.
As the centerpiece, the barong Tagalog is re-envisioned as a modern, comfortable and breathable drape and constructed from the innovative Piñavel, with the intricate embroidery giving it the visual drama.
Another patriotic accent is the Philippine flag’s tricolor trimming, a subtle yet striking reminder of the national pride woven into every thread.
The trousers, meanwhile, pay respect to our regional weaving traditions by blending the textural charm of Trambia, the traditional woven kumot from La Union with resilient Poly-Piña.
“Ito ay istorya ng ating pagka-Pilipino, istorya ng ating kultura at mayaman na sining. As a fashion designer, sa tagal ko na, I know how a fabric behaves, so nandun na ako sa innovation of fabrics, fabric development, and clothing technology beyond designing,” bared Bacudio. “As a Filipino and as an artist, this is my legacy. Time will come, we will all disappear. But this is an advocacy that the next generation will benefit from.”
