Project Runway Philippines (season 1)

Project Runway Philippines (Season 1)
Judges Rajo Laurel and Apples Aberin-Sahdwani, host Teresa Herrera, and mentor Jojie Lloren, together with the designers of Project Runway Philippines season 1
Country of origin	Philippines
No. of episodes	13 + 2
Release
Original network	ETC
Original release	July 30 – November 12, 2008
Filming dates	early 2008 –
No. of contestants	14
No. of tasks	12
Winner	Aries Lagat
Season chronology
Next → Season 2

July 30 – November 12, 2008

The first season of Project Runway Philippines premiered on July 30, 2008 on cable through ETC Entertainment Central and on free TV through SBN 21. The show was hosted by model and actress Teresa Herrera, with fashion designer and faculty member of School of Fashion and the Arts Jojie Lloren serving as mentor and Marie Jamora as director. Filipino top model and lifestyle feature writer Apples Aberin-Sahdwani and fashion designer Rajo Laurel complete the judging panel. The winner received P500,000 (roughly US$11,000) in cash, a start-up business package, an editorial spread in Mega magazine, and an opportunity to show their collection in Philippine Fashion Week. The final three designers, as revealed in the Finale episode, would get to design a clothing line to be sold exclusively in SM Makati and SM Ortigas, while the winner would display his collection in SM Makati. The Final Runway show was held on October 23, 2008, at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, with New York-based handbag and accessories designer Rafé Totengco and notable shoe designer Cesar Gaupo as guest judges. Aries Lagat of Iligan City was declared the winner, beating Philipp Tampus of Lapu-Lapu City and Veejay Floresca of Makati City.

Project Runway Philippines held its auditions from January 14 through January 16, 2008 in School of Fashion and the Arts (SoFA) in Makati City, Metro Manila. Casting call was also held on March 10, 2008 in Crown Regency Hotel and Towers in Cebu City for fashion designers in Visayas and Mindanao island groups. Over 200 designers auditioned during the course of the casting calls.