How the Bench presentation became a variety show

MANILA, Philippines - The Bench/Rajo Laurel show on the closing night of Fashion Week had, in all honesty, left my mouth agape. I managed to snag a choice front row seat, and with glass of rosé in hand, expected to sit through the usual cavalcade of fit models and celeb endorsers swanning up and down the catwalk, maybe peacocking a little, having a bit of fun, since Bench is a casual clothing line. But no, from the moment the first dance crew came out, I knew this was no ordinary fashion show. A second dance crew came out, and they did the obligatory dance-off. The Philippine Allstars, models and celeb endorsers were dressed as different cliques with preps, mods, disco divas, geeks, goths, hip hop heads, and Joey Mead as an actual peacock, all battling for cool. It was ASAP/PartyPilipinas mayhem, according to those who watch those shows, capped off with an acrobatic cheer dancing showdown between the UP Pep Squad and CCP Bobcats, who were also dressed in opposing black and white. You almost forgot that Bench was actually launching Rajo’s two scents, Uno and Dos, as well as a jeans line, because you would rather be up dancing if it weren’t for your fashion-forward yet physically constricting Fashion Week outfit. That didn’t stop Rajo, whose birthday it was, from making everyone get up and do his little dance move, which consists of pumping your hands up and down and then making a duck face with your fingers. At the end of the show however, cashiers were lined up on the ready for purchases of the scents and the jeans, which guests could now inspect at their leisure.