Their story began long before Society Enterprises became a dress shop. It started in the 1950s with their grandfather, Pantaleon Peña Sr. who sold rolls of fabric loaded in the back of a jeepney, traveling from barrio to barrio in Nabua, Camarines Sur. On market days, he brought not just textiles and sewing notions, but the promise of possibility in every yard of cloth.

With him at his side was his wife, Aurelia, who taught herself to sew by carefully unpicking old garments, learning each stitch with patience and imagination. What she lacked in formal training, she made up for with grit and creativity. From her hands came dresses that carried not just fabric, but the love of a mother, the vision of a woman, and the beginnings of a legacy. The couple named their business Society Enterprise.

The spouses tirelessly worked together building a business selling textiles and sewing dresses. They added a bakeshop and went into rentals of tables, chairs and kitchen utensils for party use. They built more than a livelihood– they built trust. In their community, they were neighbors who could always be counted on. Their lives were woven into the everyday celebrations of others.

Founder Lola Aurelia would inspire her daughters to carry on the family torch until her passing in 2003 when she was 83. In the 1980s, Nenita Peña Beltran opened her own shop in Pili, and Adelaida Peña Vargas established hers in Iriga City.

What began as a traveling fabric trade became two dress shops, each carrying the same values of honesty, resilience, and craft. Staying honest and true to their passion, the family business thrived as its reputation for creating beautiful, timeless pieces.

Practicing good faith

Writing on her FB page on April 6, 2018, Adelaida Peña Vargas shared insights about the challenges she faced in growing her dressmaking business in San Miguel, Iriga City:

“Often, I am asked how I grew a sewing business in a small city for 30 years and counting. Every time, I answer saying, ‘I practice good faith.’

“In my younger years I’ve always had an eye for pretty clothes. I know what fabric feels good and what color suits my skin tone. I even made my own prom dress all by myself. You see, my mother was a dress maker, I grew up seeing her make money to raise a family out of a craft she learned from scratch. I admired her but never really thought i’d be a dressmaker myself.

“After graduating college, I quickly learned that office work was not to my liking. So, after quitting my office job in the metro, I studied dressmaking and fashion designing at Slims Fashion and Art school, went back to the province and put up my own store.

“It was not easy. My store, after all, started as a one-woman operation. Although there were very few dress shops in town back then, the market was not ripe. When I got married and had children, my girls became my barbie dolls. The dresses I made for them during school activities turned out to be advertisements of my work. As my kids grew, so did the business. Slowly, more and more customers go to my store.

“The 30 years were not without upheavals. There were times when almost no one would come to my door. But I had kids to raise and sewing is what I do.

“In business, you have to not only master your craft but also believe in it. It is important for me to establish a good relationship with my customers. I do my best to deliver what I am asked, to work on what my customers need and in the price that they can afford.

“My philosophy is grounded on good faith. I may not be the most high-end fashion designer, but customers come to me because I am genuinely true to my craft.”

Modern Clara

Now it is the third generation’s turn, the four Claras, daughters of Adelaida. They grew up among fabrics and threads, listening to the hum of sewing machines as lullabies, watching how a simple bolt of cloth could be transformed into confidence, beauty, and memory.

From its humble beginnings, the Society Enterprises dress shop run by Adelaida has now found a new home at Crescini Street, Filgon Bldg, San Francisco, Iriga City, beginning in February 2025.

At this time, the family also introduced Modern Clara by Society Enterprises – a collection of Filipiniana styled dresses redefined for the modern Bicolana. Every design reflects the personality of the wearer– fashion should be as unique as each are.

At Modern Clara, they specialize in custom-made fashion, crafted with meticulous attention to detail. They use “inabel” (pronounced as “inabol” and spelled as “inabëģ”), a locally woven fabric from Buhi, known for its rich heritage and quality. To make each piece truly one-of-a-kind, they incorporate embroidery handcrafted by the women of Baao, adding a unique touch that celebrates the creativity and artistry of the Rinconada region. The artisans of Inabëģ, Buhinon Woven Products, and Lavapie Handloom Woven Product are among their direct suppliers of inabel handwoven fabrics from Buhi.

Their fashion product assortment now include: bridal and entourage Wear, off-the-rack and custom-made; prom dresses and ball gowns, elegantly styled for those unforgettable nights; and, for the men, barongs and suits, perfect for weddings, yearbook pictorials, and formal events.

This new chapter in their family business has also brought Cafe Society, a space where guests can sip, stay, and enjoy fresh brewed coffee from Sagada and freshly baked homemade cookies.

Over the years, Society Enterprises has evolved, but the family’s commitment remains the same: to celebrate Filipino elegance, tradition, and craftsmanship.

Trade partnerships

Adelaida’s daughter, Adeline Vargas Peña Almelor, representing Modern Clara by Society Enterprises, has attended the training programs of DTI Camarines Sur and benefited from KMME, DTI’s mentorship program. KMME, an initiative of the Department of Trade and Industry and Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship, aims to strengthen the entrepreneurial capability of MSMEs by enhancing their access to Mentorship, Money, and Market—the 3Ms essential for business growth and sustainability.

Proud to be a showcase of heritage, creativity, and true Bicolano pride, Modern Clara by Society Enterprise has participated in these trade shows:

• BTS 2025: Bicol Travel Show by BATTO NAITAS Bicol at the Vista Mall Naga on April 5-6, 2025
• Feria de Camarines featuring Pustoriosa, Robinsons Naga Atrium, August 14-18, 2025
• Orgullo Kan Bikol (OKB) Trade Fair at the Carousel Court, Festival Mall, Alabang, Metro Manila on October 15–19, 2025
• Tatak Pinoy Grand Holiday Fair at Megatrade Hall, SM MegaMall, December 23-28, 2025

Modern Clara by Society Enterprise has recently joined hands with Kilyab, the music band led by Karl Ramirez. In doing so, they are partnering heritage wearables with socially relevant music. Through their collaboration, they express the belief that: “When we tell our stories boldly, we strengthen our communities. When we wear our culture with pride, we carry our ancestors with us.”

Today, through Modern Clara, the family is reimagining Filipiniana for a new era.

Each piece they create is one-of-a-kind-stitched with the spirit of their Lola Aurelia’s ingenuity, the dedication of Mama Adelaida and Mama Nenita, and their family’s love for the craft.

Modern Clara fashion means wearing a dress with a story. A story woven with heritage. A story of a family—who hopes that beauty, like tradition, will always find a way to live on.

The header features selected terno designs from Modern Clara’s Tatak Pinoy collection. This article was written by Jojo De Jesus for Dateline Ibalon with the assistance of Adeline Vargas Peña Almelor. Click this link for more updates about Modern Clara by Society Enterprises.