Ara Mina is Selling Her Mano Po Gown
ARA MINA – The actress asked the help of content creator Boss Toyo to auction her iconic gown from the award-winning 2002 film Mano Po. The funds raised will support her plan to establish an assistance center for people with disabilities. Ara, whose sister has Down syndrome, hopes the center will offer assessments, therapy, and even Paralympics activities.
In her guest appearance on Boss Toyo’s show, Pinoy Pawnstars, Ara presented the red gown, noting that since Mano Po, around ten people have shown interest in purchasing it. The striking backless gown, which nearly reveals the lower back, has remained memorable for its bold design. It has frequently gained attention, especially within the LGBTQ+ community for gay pageants, due to its resemblance to similar styles worn by stars like Beyoncé and Kim Kardashian.
In 2020, the gown went viral as netizens noticed the similarity between Ara’s gown and those recently worn by the global icons, fueling renewed interest in the piece.
Ara has shared that she is determined to put the gown’s popularity to good use. “Itong gown na ‘to madalas ‘to mag-trending kasi diba sila Beyonce, sila Kim Kardashian, nag-ganiyan na, naglow-back. Famous rin ‘yan sa mga LGBTQ+ natin lalo na kapag may mga gay contest. Gusto ko siya ipa-auction,” she explained.
With the auction, she hopes to secure initial funds for the planned assistance center in Santolan, designed to provide various resources and support services for people with disabilities. Ara envisions the center as a space where individuals can receive personalized assessments, therapy, and have access to sports activities like Paralympics.
Ara earned her first Best Actress award for her role in Mano Po, which received 12 awards at the 28th Manila Film Festival. The film, celebrated for its star-studded cast, featured prominent actors like Maricel Soriano, Richard Gomez, Kris Aquino, the late Eddie Garcia, and Boots Anson-Roa.