Pinoy designer creates pro-Trump dress worn at Grammys

A Filipino designer has created a gown expressing his support for US President Donald Trump that was worn at the recently held Grammy Awards.
Designer Andre Soriano made the gown with the pro-Donald Trump slogan — "Make America Great Again"—that garnered singer Joy Villa attention at the prestigious annual music awards.
Speaking to the Hollywood Reporter, Soriano deftly avoided talking about his politics but said "a lot" of people in power "really misconstrued what this country stands for."
"I love this country. I'm from the Philippine islands, I am a proud American. I really love this country. I am a minority, Joy is black. America is about immigrants," the designer was quoted as saying in the report.
Soriano chose to make his stance known to conservative Republican website Gateway Pundit, where he said, "We only have one President and that is President Trump. It’s NOT Hillary."
The designer, who immigrated to the US at 16, said he scrapped initial designs for Villa's dress to make a dress to "unite the country" after hearing singer Madonna's comment about blowing up the White House.
"Just like Rosa Parks, we are going to stand up for our rights as Americans," Soriano said.
Trump has been controversial for his tough stand on immigration, to the point of banning citizens from several countries.
Another Pinoy in Grammys
Meanwhile, Broadway producer Jhett Tolentino won his first Grammy Award with the team of the novel turned musical "The Color Purple" for Best Musical Theater Album.
A report on Los Angeles Times said Tolentino received the award with producers Stephen Bray, Van Dean, Frank Filipetti, Roy Furman, and Scott Sanders; the composer-lyricist team of Bray, Brenda Russell and Allee Willis, and principal soloists Danielle Brooks, Cynthia Erivo and Jennifer Hudson.
"The Color Purple" is an adaptation of Alice Walker's epistolary novel about the sexist and racist abuse African-American women endured through sisterhood in the US in the 1930s.
He previously won a Tony for producing the comedy play “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike" with producing partner Joan Raffe and their company, JoanJhett Productions.
A noted Democrat, Tolentino re-opened a GoFundMe page for his biopic "Life is What You Make It" after Sunday's Grammy win.
Tolentino said the film was inspired by his return to the Philippines in 2015 after 13 years of working in New York City, Japan, and Singapore to fulfill his dreams.
"After having pledged myself to only come back accomplished, it was a historic moment not just for me, not just for my family and friends but also to some Filipinos who have followed my journey," he said.
"I thought I would document it and share my inspiring story to the world especially to the millions of indigent, uneducated children. How a child from a slum in the Philippines became a producer on Broadway." —KBK, GMA News

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