A generous soul, sweet disposition: Remembering Paul Herrera

I met fashion designer Paul Herrera and his twin brother John a little over a year ago when I had been tasked by MEGA to host the fashion reality competition called the MEGA Young Designer’s Competition (MYDC) : All Stars.

Five established designers formed 4 houses. Chris Diaz, Puey Quiñones, Jeffrey Rogador, and Paul & John Herrera joined together for House of Herrera. The show was an emotional rollercoaster filled with dramatic highlights, and many tears were shed.

The duration of filming undoubtedly made us all a tight-knit family, as we all rooted for one another to do well. Ironically, the House of Herrera never even won one single challenge during the entire course of the show.  And yet as destiny would have it, as I announced the winner of MYDC: All Stars exactly a year ago at the MEGA Pinoy Pride Ball, The House of Herrera hailed victorious and won the entire competition!

It just goes to show that even down to the wire, both Paul  and John had such a resilient spirit despite failing to win any of the past challenges.

After the competition, I gravitated towards Paul and John in particular. Maybe it was the underdog story that really made me want to befriend them. Besides, the Herrera twins always had a cheerful disposition and always offered help if I had a fashion emergency.  

Sure enough, when the Star Magic Ball invite arrived in my mailbox, I called Paul first. I had wanted to do something very understated and he was all for creating for me a white tuxedo shirt with a satin black ball gown skirt, with pockets. 

Every time I’d come to see Paul for measuring or a fitting in his Timog atelier for any other event, we could always end up talking incessantly for hours after over tea about our love for the theater and the performing arts.

When the gala night of Wicked at the CCP had been announced, I knew out of most of my friends, I could count on Paul together with John and their best friend Eff to really go to town and wear Emerald City costumes wholeheartedly.

They were the hit of the Wicked gala, with everyone, even Lunchbox Productions producer, James Cundall, complementing their own designed outfits. The fans of the show watching that evening thought that the three of them were actually part of the production! 

Suzie Mathers, who played Glinda, couldn’t help but tweet and Instagram their outfits on her own feed, saying “This is how they do an opening in #Manila!”

Last I really spent time with the twins was when they came to support my voice performance for Full Gallop with Cherie Gil portraying the iconic Diana Vreeland. We had a 3-hour catch-up after the show and talked about everything from hopes and dreams to inspirations and fashion, all between sips of wine. 

That dinner cemented that our friendship was above and beyond just the entertainment and fashion industry. The Herrera twins had become my favorite set of twins that I knew I would always be able to confide in. I am certainly not alone as their solid group of friends called #ThePradaBarkada can testify how dependable they are. Always unselfish and gracious of their talents and blessings, both of them are a package deal too good to be true. 

When John posted this on his Facebook Sunday morning, I was aghast. “My brother Paul Herrera has passed away this morning at 9:48 AM… The family would like to thank everyone who have extended their condolences.”

I hadn’t even known Paul was sick because I hadn’t opened my FB. How does something like this happen to someone so talented with such a bright future ahead of him? Paul was only 32 years old.

At the wake, I saw many familiar faces in the fashion industry who were also there to mourn the passing of Paul Herrera. Eff, Paul’s housemate and best friend greeted me as I entered and recalled to me Paul’s temperament the night before he had his cardiac arrest. He was still in good spirits and joking about having to be in the hospital. 

But it wasn’t until I saw Paul’s spitting image that I broke down as I hugged John between sobs of disbelief and grief. We held each other for a good cry, and somehow having John in my arms was the closest I could ever get to Paul, now that he was gone. 

John said that Paul had wanted to be cremated, but that their mother insisted on an open casket because people would have to see for themselves that Paul had passed or else they would be in denial. True enough, only upon seeing Paul lying peacefully in his black suit (which John said was his favorite, and that Paul had designed it himself), did it really sink in. Paul had gone ahead.  

And even though my heart was breaking, pictures of Paul’s posts, which flashed on a screen beside him, consoled me and made me smile. The posts showed the life Paul chose to lead. Paul was beloved because he was a dependable and sincere friend who always wished for the best for everyone.

Now that Paul is gone, It will be a year of firsts for John. On John’s FB he posted the following: “We promised to die together, the same way we came into this world.You didn’t keep your promise but I love you just the same. #‎RIPpaulherrera.” 

John will have his first birthday, his first Christmas, his first everything without his twin by his side. However, on the bright side, Paul’s legacy will continue to shine in the fashion industry because of John Herrera, his younger brother by a matter of a couple of minutes. I truly believe that John will represent and exemplify Paul not just in their work as designers but in his kind and loving spirit.

In loving memory of our dearest Paul Herrera. You will sorely be missed! – Rappler.com

Thumbnail photo of Paul from Facebook 

 Giselle Töngi-Walters is the professional ‘slashie.’ Besides being mom to Sakura and Kenobi, she is also an all-around media personality. She is a model/product endorser/radio jock/writer/actor for film, TV, theater and producer for second generation Fil-Am content. Being part of the Rappler team is a way for her to utilize her academic and showbiz experience and hopefully make some sense beyond all the chismis.