NEW FACES behind the runway and more meditative fashions took control during the Panasonic Manila Fashion Fest’s ninth season. These are some of the designers who caught BusinessWorld’s eye as we sat front row during the fashion event.

HERE ARE some of the trends to look out for next year, as presented in Manila Fashion Fest’s runway.

AMERICAN footwear company, Skechers continues to bank on the current nostalgia for the 1990s as it releases new colorways for its classic chunky sneaker D’Lites line, with one harkening back to the original black and white style which started it all for the brand.

INTERNATIONAL cosmetic brand Max Factor has found its first Filipina muse to be its beauty ambassador: Jennylyn Mercado.

AVENE, the French skincare brand known for using the thermal spring water from the town of the same name, has released its new Aqua Cream-in-gel, an “all-in-one multi-benefit skincare [product] to keep skin beautifully hydrated and protected all day long” which is specially formulated for Asian skin, according to a press release.

ACTRESS MARITONI Fernandez had just turned 30 when she went to the US, accompanying her mother who was to take tests for an illness.

• THE PHILIPPINES is at the center of the battle against breast cancer. Several reports show that the country has the highest incidence rate in Asia and is among the top 10 countries with the most cases of breast cancer. The disease is so common that one of every 13 Filipino women are expected to develop breast cancer in her lifetime.

WHAT WAS formerly a car park located inside the 6.2-acre City of Dreams Manila (COD) is now Southeast Asia’s first VR (virtual reality) zone-cum-food park. The integrated resort and casino property recently opened the Garage, featuring 10 food outlets and four VR attractions ensconced in a 2,714-square meter space.

YOU NEED TO KEEP reminding yourself: Damien Chazelle’s adaptation of James Hansen’s biographical book First Man is not The Right Stuff and astronaut Neil Armstrong (played by Ryan Gosling) is no test pilot in the mold of Chuck Yeager, nor was it -- or he -- meant to be. Question: does it manage to stand on its own four radically redesigned fins?

THROUGHOUT the month of October, a number of companies are holding special events and promos to improve awareness of breast cancer, and in many cases to raise money for research, awareness, and treatment centers.

IN AN ocean of Korean pop idols whose main selling point is pulsating dance moves, an honest-to-goodness rock band is very hard to come by. One can only name a few — CNBLUE, FTIsland, and newbies N Flying and Honeyst. All of them are under FNC Entertainment’s umbrella and of these, only CNBLUE has performed in the Philippines. CNBLUE is on hiatus with all four members undergoing mandatory military service.

THE Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), in cooperation with the Music School of Ryan Cayabyab, presents the Akapela Open International finals night at the CCP Main Theater on Oct. 20, 7 p.m. Akapela Open International is a movement and competition for contemporary a cappella ensemble singing.