“WOW.”

That was my reaction as the finale of season three of Project Runway Philippines drew to a close last night. Amazing, breathtaking, beautiful clothes on display – and an amazing, breathtaking and beautiful crop of finalists too.

I think I cannot overstate it by saying the level of talent in the finale is the highest yet on this show. Had they competed in different seasons, three of the four designers could have won their own batches with the level of workmanship and amazing designs they displayed. In fact, I’ll go right ahead and say that this season easily blows US Project Runway out of the water – well, the last four or five seasons, at least.

Plus, there was the nail-biting conclusion of two equally talented (but markedly aesthetically different) designers going head-to-head for the crown. Were you Team Cheetah or Team Milka? I surprised myself for ultimately casting my vote with the serene Milka, but more on that later.

Enough superlatives – let’s get down to judging!

Amor Albano

Amor’s show-stopping final dress, and a lackluster strapless number

Amor was my favorite all season, but somewhere around the last three challenges or so, she began to show an inability to progress beyond her instincts. While designers like Nel and Cheetah showed willingness to experiment and change, Amor became stuck in a rut of pretty. This was immediately obvious in her finale collection, which guest judge Lesley Mobo tartly called “with a collection of party dresses.”

The judges commended her for using native fabrics and showing a few pieces that displayed her mastery of draping and layering to evoke the rock formation that was her inspiration (such as that showstopper of a black gown, her final piece), but on the whole there were too many pretty beige dresses overwhelming the real thoughtfully made pieces.

Nel Claveria Jr.

Polished, from garish: Nel’s creative journey, in dress form

What a journey it has been for Nel! While his stated inspiration was bubbles (sea foam), it was his growth as a designer on the show that really shone throughout his collection. Starting with slightly garish orange dresses, he progressed to sleek yellow numbers and ended with ethereal beige and white pieces that showcased his technical mastery and what has become his signature: beautiful, glass-like accessories heat-treated from plastic bottles. Throughout it all Nel showed real humility and grace. Apples said it best with “before I met you, I did not think taste could be taught.”

While Nel could have won a weaker season of the show, it was his luck to be in the finale with the superstar Cheetah Rivera and the truly astounding Milka Redoble. Which brings us to: the head-to-head.

Cheetah Rivera vs. Milka Quin Redoble

Reactions to the finale seemed pretty evenly split down the middle, with lots rooting for Cheetah and her wild, dark and high fashion show, “The Chase,” and others pulling for the technical mastery and subtle, elegant sexuality of Milka’s “Musa” collection. I admit I started the episode fully believing that Cheetah would win it, hands down, but by the time Milka’s third dress sashayed down that runway, my opinion changed completely. Let me tell you why.

Cheetah’s dark and intoxicating final show

Now here’s the thing. Cheetah’s collection may have been couture in every sense of the
world – dramatic, thoughtful and certainly attention-getting – but there was a reason
why the all judges mentioned her finding her voice and identity along with comparing
her to Alexander McQueen. You could not escape the late designer’s influence over this
collection, from the full-length opera gloves to that bear-like black dress paired with a
full skirt. And while there is nothing wrong with paying homage to a true master, there’s
something to be said for fully realized originality and vision, and that’s what Milka had in
spades.

“Pinasosyal mo ang saba,” said Rajo about Milka’s banana plant-inspired collection

Milka took no cues from other designers and instead showed a collection that was breathtakingly self-assured and technically magnificent, like she was doing this for the 20th time instead of the first. I marveled at how beautifully constructed the clothes were, which fit the models like second skin – and how was that even possible when she only chose the models three days before the final runway?! You could also see her inspiration very clearly in the designs, but in a masterful, restrained way. Finally, every single piece that walked down that runway could be taken off the model’s back and sent to a celebrity to wear to, like, the Cannes red carpet or something. They were the perfect blend of flattering and interesting – not so over-designed that they cease to function as proper clothes, but not so standard either that you could find them off the rack. Anyone wearing
these dresses would feel beautiful and unique and strong.

The photos at the ETC Project Runway site are certainly worth a look, but I urge you to catch a rerun of the episode to appreciate the clothes in motion. (Do check out Apples Aberin’s blog for behind-the-scenes moments too!) If there’s anything that season 3 of Project Runway Philippines showed us, it’s that we are a treasure trove of fantastic Filipino designs. Kudos for an exhilarating season!

Subscribe to Marie Claire on Zinio – One year at $1.66 per issue

Katrina Atienza, writer, wife, mom of two and fashion devotee, blogs at Plus Size Fasyon Mudra. Follow her on Twitter (@iggyatienza).