SA maniwala kayo o hindi, ang royal blue evening gown na isinuot ni Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach nang koronahan siyang Miss Universe 2015 ay nagkakahalaga na ngayon ng mahigit P1 milyon.

Ito ang kinumpirma ng Filipino designer na si Albert Andrada, na nagdisenyo ng nasabing gown, sa exclusive interview sa kanya sa Tagaytay City kamakailan.

“Without the Miss Universe title, it was roughly P180,000-P200,000. But with the Miss Universe title already, it shoots up to more than P1 million. I’m saying this because somebody offered to buy it and the (national) costume as well,” sabi ni Albert.

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Sinabi ni Albert na tatlong Pilipino na ang nagkainteres na bilhin ang nasabing gown ni Pia, na naka-display sa shop ni Albert sa Makati City. Hindi niya sila pinangalanan.

“There were three offers but I declined it. They just emailed me and they wanted to buy it. They are Filipino-Chinese. I regret that I can’t sell it because it’s part of my life already. It’s part of my journey as a fashion designer,” sabi ng sikat na fashion designer.

Ayon kay Albert, ang pagdidisenyo ng isang winning gown gaya ng kay Pia ay nagsilbing game changer para sa kanya, dahil dumagsa ang kanyang mga kliyente simula noon.

“Everybody then wants to be Pia,” sabi ni Albert. “They know that I cannot make replica of the gown although some requested if they can have the same design. I declined.”

Gayunman, sinabi ni Albert na flattered siya na maraming designer ang kumokopya sa blue gown ni Pia.

“To my surprise, ang dami ring gumaya. It’s so flattering because for me, I wouldn’t be offended if they copy it because for them it’s celebrating the triumph of Pia as Miss Universe. So that’s the closest that they can have,” paliwanag niya.

Sinabi rin ni Albert na paminsan-minsan ay gumagawa pa rin siya ng mga gown para kay Pia. “Oh yes! Occasionally if she needs something I would make a gown for her.”

Payag ba siyang gumawa ng gowns para sa iba pang beauty queens, bukod kay Pia?“Yes! But it depends! Because I don’t want to have a comparison between Pia’s gown and the other queens. If it’s not for a competition, I would. But if it’s for competition, I don’t think I can.”

Sinabi rin ni Albert na hindi niya masasabi sa ngayon kung anong klase ng gown ang dapat na suotin ng pambato natin sa Miss Universe 2018 na si Catriona Gray kapag lumaban na ito sa prestihiyosong pageant sa Disyembre, dahil hindi pa niya personal na nakakaharap ang beauty queen.

“If I would dress up Catriona Gray, I have to talk to her deeply. That’s what I did for Pia. There has to be a story line. So right now, I cannot answer you like what color because I still have to talk to her deeply because that’s what I do with my other clients. There’s always a consultation first so that I would know their personality and feel who they are before I make a dress,” sabi ni Albert.

Kinorohanan sa 64th Miss Universe pageant sa Las Vegas, Nevada noong Disyembre 20, 2015, si Pia ang ikatlong Miss Universe ng bansa, kasunod nina Margarita Moran (1973) at Gloria Diaz (1969).