(Eagle News) — The national costume used by Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray during the pageant in Thailand will be on display at the National Historical Commission of the Philippines museum starting this Rizal Day, December 30.
The display of the costume was significant to the official launching of the National Quincentennial Committee—a government agency mandated to facilitate the celebration of the “500th anniversary of the Victory at Mactan” which is considered the very first circumnavigation of the world.
Before the costume will be displayed, NHCP Officer-in-Charge for materials research and conservation division Rommel Aquino said that the costume underwent documentation and assessment.
The national commission also fixed some damages found in the costume.
NHCP Chair Rene Escalante expressed his admiration for Gray’s pride in wearing the Pintado-inspired national costume and her effort to showcase the country’s colorful culture and proud history in her costumes and other adornments.
Escalante also noted that the Pintados-inspired body suit which Gray wore as the national costume very closely resembled the illustrations from the Boxer Codex, also known as the Manila Manuscript, written in 1590.
The Boxer Codex contained illustrations of ethnic groups in the Philippines at the time of their initial contact with the Spaniards. The Codex also contained 75 colored drawings of the inhabitants of the countries in the Far Eastern regions, and their distinctive costume, including at least fifteen illustrations of Philippine inhabitants then.
Gray’s Pintados-inspired national costume will be on display at the NHCP museum indefinitely.
