The Barong Story

I had already gotten the materials for my Barong Tagalog a couple of months ago, thanks to Tita Lina and Tito Nelson (Karina's Parents) for the tela. I had already bought the cloth for my undershirt as well as my pants at the Kamuning Market. I thought finding a custom tailor would be easy, when I was a kid I always had my formal attire done by Kingsmen Tailors, so we went over to their branch in Robinson's Galleria. To my surprise, the store was no longer there, but since I know that they are still selling RTW (ready to wear apparel) in the department store, it didn't really bother me too much that this particular branch has closed. Searching the internet, I found that their main branch is located inside the Hotel Intercontinental in Makati. After a bunch of botched trips there, we decided that even if we do find it, it might be too inconvenient to go back and forth for fittings and such.

So then, we started looking at our alternatives; namely R.M. Manlapat Tailoring, located near Pioneer. Tito Nelson has his Barongs and pants done at R.M. Manlapat so it must be quite good. But then looking through clickthecity.com I found out that there was a Kingsmen store located in the basement of The Podium. So we set out to find that store and sure enough, we had found it. Just borne of my own curiousity I asked if they might still have my old measurements (back in high school as a senior), just as a benchmark, no doubt that I had put on more than a few pounds since then but hey, I was just curious. Unfortunately, they had thrown away all the patterns prior to 2004. Then I saw these studs as they called it, it's like cufflinks for barongs, one pack has six buttons; 4 smaller ones, for the front and 2 larger ones, for the cuffs. The studs looked really nice, cast in white and yellow gold, with a nice semi-precious stone in the center, and the price also matches, at 4,300-13,000 pesos; those are no cheap buttons.

Then one afternoon, I found myself walking through the SM Megamall basement, where I curiously stumbled upon the Onesimus store due to the huge 70% off sale sign (now that's a sale). I think this was the first time I came in this store and I saw a tailor taking measurements of some guy. That's when I came to know that Onesimus also does custom tailoring. I love the quality that Kingsmen, plus I really trust that brand, but Onesimus being in Megamall would be the most convinient place for me plus their work is also first class. It was just starting to get confusing, but then I remembered that I had already bought material for my undershirt (a long sleeved camiso chino which is a flesh tone, that is also worn tucked out so that it just looks like lining on the barong) The Onesimus representative said that being that they have not made anything like this before, they have no idea how to price the peice although they could probably create the peice. But that just swayed my confidence in them, and knowing that Kingsmen can do the camiso chino for me, I made the decision to just have the Barong done by Kingsmen. I am still trying to loose some weight (around 10 lbs would do it), and I am just waiting for my body to be at a good enough shape so I can get a good fit come october.