Maalaala Mo Kaya July 1: The Success Of Filipino Designer Rocky Gathercole Featuring Arjo Atayde and Zaijian Jaranilla

Maalaala Mo Kaya July 1’s episode features the success story of renowned Filipino Designer Rocky Gathercole as portrayed by Zaijian Jaranilla and Arjo Atayde. Out of a life of poverty, left by his mother after only a week from being born, Rocky has gone a long way from his childhood drawings of his home and family to his creative designs and sketches as the professional fashion designer he is. Although unknown to some, Rocky is also a father to his son Andrei.  Today, after his perseverance and dream-chasing he has made a name for himself for dressing international stars like Paris Hilton and Janet Jackson and much more.

Rocky’s story  comes to life through the talented Zaijian in his portrayal Young Rocky. Arjo, on the other hand, will tell the coming-of-age side of Rocky’s life as one who searches and finds himself in the fashion industry against all odds. Starring alongside Arjo and Zaijian are Nonie Buencamino, Jenny Miller, Shy Carlos, Fanny Serrano and Pooh. The story is directed by Nuel Crisostomo Naval and written by Jaymar Santos Castro.

Visual Arts Brings Success to Rocky Gathercole Amidst a Difficult Life

Rocky grew up under the wing of his English father, Ike, after Rocky’s mother, Aging, left them. Aging decided to leave Ike because he was constantly drunk, jobless and got into relationships with other women. Growing up without a mother, Rocky kept dreaming of having a perfect family which is revealed in his drawings of his ideal family and home. When he turned 14, Rocky felt that he was more in touch with his feminine side so he decides to look for his mother for guidance. He also ran away from home to to improve his and his father’s standard of living. When Rocky finally finds his mother, instead of welcoming her son, she tells Rocky to leave because she already has her own life and her own family. Rocky had no choice but to roam the Manila streets, homeless. It is at this time that he met Ricky.

Rocky finds friendship and love. Ricky has been nothing but a true friend to Rocky, helping him through the most difficult times of his life. Soon, Rocky meets a young woman named Josephine. He falls in love with her and is the only woman he has ever loved. Their relationship accidentally leaves Josephine pregnant but despite that, Rocky feels fulfilled because he felt that he now has a family he can call his own. This is something his father, Ike, would be proud of. This fantasy did not last long, however. After Josephine gives birth to their son Andrei, she decides to leave and work in Japan. Even if it was painful for Rocky, he promised a good life for him and his son.

Rocky’s former nanny ushers his success in life. In the course finding a stable job, Rocky crosses paths with his old nanny, Mama Vicente. Mama Vicente took care of him until he was two until she left to work as an assistant to a fashion designer in Saudi Arabia. After finding out that Rocky’s eye and talent in visual art, Mama Vicente offers Rocky a job. As a test, Rocky would draw the flower prints he would see from dresses, gowns and even glass. This craftsmanship lands him a job as an assistant to a known fashion designer in Dubai. After a few years, Rocky’s success was inevitable. He finds himself dress Hollywood celebrities and international stars. In his 40’s Rocky decides to go home to the Philippines and build a home for his son Andrei and his father, Ike, now in his 70’s.

Rocky Gathercole is Philippines’ top Avant Garde fashion designer. “For the Stars Fashion House” on Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles is one of the places to spot the avant garde designs of Rocky Gathercole. Among his creations is a gold corset that Katy Perry wore in her “Dark Horse” music video and the black-and-white dress that Paris Hilton wore at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. His other clients are A-Listers Nicki Minaj, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, Carrie Underwood and Arianna Grande. Rocky has also been busy running shows in New York and Los Angeles.

Rocky talks about style, life, and gives advice to budding designers. In an interview with the Asian Journal, Rocky says that when it comes to his creative energy, he designs according to his mood. It is at his happy moments that his “weird” and creative designs come out. When he is sad, the more feminine and simple side of him is what surfaces. When he was asked how to prevent the success from getting to his head, Rocky says that living on the streets helped him with that because he never expected a life “where everything was given” to him. He loves being grounded and he prefers “no pretention.” He believes that designers are born and not made. His life experience practically proves this true. He advises budding designers to “be yourself and find it in your heart, and the art will come out.”

Tunghayan ang kwento sa likod ng tagumpay ng Pinoy Fashion Designer na si Rocky Gathercole, tampok ang pagganap nina Arjo Atayde at Zaijian Jaranilla. #MMKRockyGathercole, Sabado (July 1) pagkatapos ng The Voice Teens. #MMK25

A post shared by MMKOfficial (@mmkofficial) on Jun 28, 2017 at 5:41pm PDT