It is a canon event that every little girl at least once has dreamed of owning a unicorn, becoming a mermaid, or marrying a prince charming in a beautiful ballgown and long veil. The latter is carried on until a special someone pops a question and they unreluctantly answer with a “yes!” Maria Bautista-Ong—a Cinderella-like girl who started from the bottom—learned to hone her skills and grow a pair of wings—becoming every woman's Fairy Godmother, helping them say “yes” to their perfect wedding dress.

Bautista-Ong is an ID112 Fashion Design and Merchandising (AB-FDM) alumna, owner, and designer of swimwear brand “Helen Piece,” and her most recent achievement, “Maria Bautista Bridal Atelier." Powered by her dedication and talent, she single-handedly made a name for herself in an industry dominated by famous male designers.

An experience like no other

Back in 2012, when neon-colored peplum tops and dark, filled-in eyebrows were popular,. Bautista-Ong started her Benildean journey as a fashion student. A “once-upon-a-time” tale that she will continue to gratefully look back to as her career grows, “It's a big thing,” she said, describing her college journey in an exclusive interview with The Benildean.

“Hands-on” was the word that she used to describe how the program handles their students. Equipping them with technical skills, and providing courses that FDM students need to start their career in the fashion industry—”everything else was there,” she proudly expressed. These unforgettable opportunities continue to guide Bautista-Ong, applying all her learnings to every needle she threads.

Unlike the state of fashion programs in the country today, she shared that in 2012, there were only a few who wanted to pursue this—yet Benilde saw the potential in the talents that young Filipino designers could bring to the table and offered the first ever Bachelor’s degree program for fashion in the Philippines. “Benilde was patient with students like us… I really appreciate it.”

Stepping into the scene

After four years of training and enhancing her dressmaking skills, in 2016, Bautista-Ong graduated and immediately entered the job market as an Assistant Designer. For four to five years, she continued to work under a designer and realized that, “[...] the money that I was earning was not enough to provide my needs, my wants…I wanted to earn more money.” 

In this economy, Bautista-Ong’s wish was not out of the ordinary—it’s real and relatable. And like what mothers always say: money does not grow on trees, “So, I used what talent I have, like designing,” she remarked.

“Way back, my friends and I really love to go to the beach and wear swimsuits. That's when I started the idea of starting a swimsuit business,” called Helen Piece. Her online shop started during the pandemic where Instagram stores were starting to flourish and many were showcasing their newly cleaned pools that had not been used in a while. “I was surprised… Even during the pandemic, everyone was buying swimsuits.

A brand that started during the pandemic, Helen Piece now has 250,000 followers on Instagram. Bautista-Ong’s swimsuit brand became influencers’ and celebrities’—like Nadine Lustre and Pia Wurtzbach—staple bikini go-to. “It boomed. A lot of people bought [my pieces],” her works became known in the industry and were styled in magazine covers such as L’Officiel Philippines, and brand advertisements.

Bautista-Ong did not only manifest her dreams into reality, but she also helped thousands of Filipinas learn to love and become comfortable with their own bodies.

Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo

Maria Bautista Bridal Atelier is a brand that stemmed from a heartfelt sentiment, “[...] Deep inside, I always wanted to create something that has its own heart and meaning… and bridal felt very personal to me.” Bautista-Ong was a 2025 bride herself, and as a fashion designer with no doubt, she created her bridesmaids’ gowns and her own wedding dress. Her pieces garnered attention on social media, even getting the chance to be featured by Bride and Breakfast. 

“As someone who also experienced being a bride, my mindset became clearer.” Beyond the aesthetically pleasing sketches and carefully thought out details, her purpose as a designer is to create a heartfelt gown that is carried by the things her brides want to remember on her wedding day. “Because every gown becomes part of someone's once-in-a-lifetime memory… So, the bridal gowns that I make are something that represents the brides.”

Owning an atelier does not only require an artist to design, practicing the art of listening will always be of importance to Bautista-Ong—which will always be the first step in the process of creating the dream dress. It starts with a conversation, “I always ask the brides what they really want on their wedding day. Or is there something that they want to put on their gown that's very sentimental to them.” From the bride’s thoughts, must-haves, what she wants to feel when she puts on the gown to how she imagines herself on the day itself, all of these details will be taken into account in sketching and fabric selection. 

Much like any other artwork, a wedding dress goes through multiple drafts and adjustments, allowing changes to happen after fittings—until it becomes the gown that fulfills every bride’s wish. “The final fitting always feels special,” Bautista-Ong fondly shared. It is one thing to be proud of a design when worn on the runway, but when you see a bride become emotional—where her eyes clearly reflect the scene where she walks down the aisle—it’s on a whole new level. 

“They become emotional most of the time and that's also the best part of my work… I get to see those moments also and it reminds me why my hard work matters.”

Bautista-Ong is not just a supplier or designer, she is a designer who creates genuine pieces that add to making a wedding all the more memorable for a bride. “I hope they feel beautiful and most important, fully themselves. I want them to feel that they're not just wearing a beautiful gown, but the gown that reflects who they are.”

The road to achieving her success wasn’t easy and smooth-sailing, as a woman who wished to start her own brands from scratch, she knew that it was bound to be difficult—but one that she did not shy away from. “I have to prove myself quietly through my works,” designs that were carefully curated with dedication and heart, rooted in sincerity. “You don't need to have everything figured out before you begin.  Sometimes you just have to start with what you have.”

For Bautista-Ong, what matters most is to keep going and strive for consistency while staying humble to allow oneself to grow in every challenge that we face. “Beginnings are often uncertain,” she expressed. “But that does not mean they are small. Every step matters, and every person who believes in your work becomes part of that journey.”

Before the celebration of Women’s Month ends, let us take a moment to acknowledge and appreciate girlhood at its core, where we create and dream from the deepest crests of our hearts—a kind of magic only women can create.