Michael Cinco, celebrity fashion designer receives outstanding Filipino award

From the Facebook page of Michael Cinco

MANILA, Philippines – Michael Cinco – a designer who has chosen to stay low-key despite the fact that he has dressed international supermodels and famous personalities – was recognized as as one of the outstanding Filipinos working overseas.

The designer, who hails from Catbalogan, Samar, was given the award by President Benigno Aquino III on Friday, in recognition of Cinco’s achievements in the fashion industry.  Cinco, who dedicated the conferral to the people of Samar and Leyte,  said he  received the award sans his trademark dark glasses,  “as requested by the palace protocol.”

After receiving the recognition, Cinco posted the following message, dated December 6th, on his Facebook page: “THANK YOU to the President of the Philippines for this Medal of Honor…Thank you Philippine Star for the headline news…my first time to appear onstage without my dark glasses as requested by the palace protocol…this is all for the Glory of God…i dedicate this award to all the people of SAMAR and LEYTE who are presently threatened by another super typhoon…i pray to all SAMARENOS to keep our faith and confidence in GOD…I LOVE YOU ALL.”

Cinco has dressed the likes of supermodels Tyra Banks and Naomi Campbell, and celebrities like Sofia Vergara, Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, Chris Brown, Fergie, Paris Hilton, Dita Von Teese and Mischa Barton.

Tyra Banks, founder and producer of the show America’s Next Top Model, also chose Cinco’s eco-couture collection to be featured on the Emmy-award winning reality show; making Cinco the first Filipino designer whose creations were showcased on the widely-viewed model competition.

Among his accolades is the title of “Asian Couturier Extraordinaire,” which was bestowed upon him in 2013 by the Asian Couture Federation. He also bagged the title of Breakthrough Designer in the WGSN Global Fashion Award held in New York in 2011.

Based in Dubai, Cinco’s masterpieces have likewise taken center-stage in the emirate county’s Fashion Week.

Cinco’s educational background includes two years of Fine Arts at the University of the Philippines-Diliman, after which he attended SLIMS fashion and arts school, and studied fashion and pattern making at Central Saint Martin’s College of Art and Design in London.