AFTER last year’s opulent ball, Raymond Gutierrez and Ashleigh Rye once again gathered Manila’s glitterati for another grand Halloween affair.
This year’s theme, ‘The New Nocturnals,’ transformed the Shooting Gallery Studios in Makati into a hauntingly elegant playground for the city’s actors, influencers, and socialites who came out in full force on October 29.
From the event’s name alone, it hinted at an atmosphere both eerie and electric. The venue, bathed in black and crimson lights, looked like a dark and cinematic ghost town that refused to sleep.
The mood was sinister yet stylish, as though all kinds of creatures were welcome to dance under one moon.
The stars, digital darlings, arrive
THE hosts immediately set the standard. Raymond Gutierrez went for a sleek yet chilling black-and-white ensemble with one side of his body designed to reveal a ghoul in couture. Ashleigh Rye, his cohost and creative partner, channeled timeless glamour with a furry gown and dark, polished makeup.
Then the Gutierrez family made a commanding entrance. Richard wore a red, black, and white suit with half his face zombified, while Ruffa turned heads in an evil-queen-inspired look, given her minimalist black gown paired with sleek hair, red lips, and a single rose in hand. Matriarch Annabelle Rama, meanwhile, was also in attendance.
Barbie Imperial followed soon after Richard in a sultry green siren look that shimmered with every flash of light.
And the spotlight quickly turned to Andrea Brillantes. Known as the undisputed Queen of Halloween Costumes, she once again lived up to her title. This time, she arrived unrecognizable, being painted head-to-toe as a black cat.
According to Andrea, the look took four hours to complete, executed by makeup artist Marlyn Ocampo, a Drag Den Season 2 contestant. She said her inspiration came from her childhood fascination with black cats, which she always considered mysterious and misunderstood.
Francine Diaz and Seth Fedelin, on the other hand, opted for a coordinated take on modern mummies, dressed in sleek brown wrappings with minimal makeup.
Kyline Alcantara went bolder, pairing short blonde hair with a menswear-inspired outfit, with it being half dapper human, half ghoul. Meanwhile, Jillian Ward was equally striking in a straight black gown with a sheer veil, carrying a fake knife for a chilling twist.
And then there was Darren Espanto, who managed to pull together a sharp vampire look with all-black attire and classic fanged makeup.
Digital personalities also brought their own flair to the event runway of costumes. Hayden Kho took a futuristic route with a Dune-inspired ensemble, having a sci-fi regal.
Miss Intercontinental 2015 first runner-up Christi McGarry turned heads with a half-skeleton face design paired with a fitted black gown that was both sultry and striking.
Athlete Mikee Reyes leaned into his signature ‘tito’ branding while keeping it sharp in a modern, all-black, Jafar-inspired outfit complete with a wide circular hat. Meanwhile, social media personality CK De Leon chanelled Maleficent, blending villainous drama with a chic, high-fashion black gown.
Gen Z TikTok stars Russco Jarvina arrived in a clean, Dracula-inspired look, and Sophia Margarette To in a wild, furry jungle ensemble that balanced sexy and playful energy.
Drag royalty
NO Halloween spectacle would be complete without the queens who redefine glamour and theatrics.
The country’s top drag artists brought high-drama, high-fashion energy to ‘The New Nocturnals,’ proving once again that drag is an art form and a statement.
Leading the pack was Marina Summers, who turned heads in a sultry, grown-up take on Wednesday Addams. She also headlined the night’s main performance.
Viñas De Luxe also stunned in an unexpected cockroach-inspired look, topped with an elaborate neckpiece that made the outfit more couture. Eva Le Queen embodied avian fantasy in a feathered gown and horns, while Arizona Brandy reinterpreted her Face-tival challenge look from Drag Race Philippines Slaysian Royale.
Khianna kept things sharp and on-brand, donning a red spiky puff dress with matching spike details on her earrings and necklace, which is a mix of danger and polish.
But the night’s most pointed social commentary came from Drag Den contestant Shewarma, who spoofed government inefficiency with her character ‘Sarah Discaya.’ Carrying a briefcase labeled ‘Ghost Projects,’ she playfully strutted down the carpet in a parody of bureaucratic embarrassment.