A love letter in pages

Vicky Veloso-Barrera honors her grandmother, fashion designer Marina Reyes Antonio, in 'Love, Marina'

- JESSICA PAG-IWAYAN

LIFE IN DESIGN Vicky Veloso-Barrera proudly presents the 'Love, Marina' book

In a world obsessed with speed and spectacle, author, educator, and designer Vicky Veloso-Barrera found herself compelled to slow down, to look back, gather memories, and honor the quiet brilliance of the woman who shaped her family's creative lineage. The result is "Love, Marina," a book she describes as a "tribute and love letter" to her grandmother: Marina Reyes Antonio, one of Manila's pioneering prewar fashion designers.

For Vicky, the book is deeply personal. "This is a tribute to my lola, Marina Antonio, who I think was a very phenomenal woman," she told Manila Bulletin Lifestyle during the launch of her book last Dec. 2, 2025, at Manila House, BGC.

A life of beauty rooted in simplicity

Born Marina del Rosario Reyes on Sept. 19, 1910, in Binondo, Manila, she grew up in a household shaped by strength and resourcefulness. When her father left the family, her mother taught her how to cook and sew-skills that became the foundation of a 50-year career in fashion.

Marina would later marry Pablo S. Antonio, National Artist for Architecture, and build a life centered on home, family, and inspired work. Long before "sustainable living" became a buzzword, she was already cultivating it.