PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte delivered his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday and announced his administration’s achievements during his first three years in office, along with his goals for the remainder of his term.
Just like in the previous SONAs, about 3,000 people attended the annual event to personally watch him deliver his speech at the Plenary Hall of the Batasang Pambansa. Invited guests include top politicians and their spouses, Cabinet members, Supreme Court justices, members of the diplomatic corps, former presidents, and other special guests.
And as always, the opening of every session of Congress stirs public interest with fashion as a much-talked about facet of the event. Spectators on stand by, in television and even on social media await what the politicians together with their families and other stakeholders would wear for the historical occasion.
The dress code is simple business attire. Lawmakers, however, are required by law to wear Filipiniana.
A couple of hours before President Duterte arrived, guests walked the red carpet of the Congress’ Lobby and displayed simple but stylish barongs and gowns for the event.
The Manila Times picked some of this year’s standouts:
Aiko Melendez, who was the first to arrive, wore a plain white mestiza gown by Edwin Tan. She was accompanied by her boyfriend, Subic Vice Governor Ja Khonghun who is wearing a Zambales-made barong.
Senator Risa Honteveros looked elegant in her mid-length Filipiniana made of piña and jusi fabric created by her favorite designer Joyel Acebuche. According to her, the dress was woven in Aklan and embroidered in Lucban. She then partnered it with her favorite sandals for work made in Marikina.
Not to be outdone were the spouses who were just as fashionable. Senator Joel Villanueva arrived with wife Gladys both wearing Paul Cabral; Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles with wife Marga—who stunned in a modernized multicolored terno by Bobby Castillo; and Sen. Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri with wife Audrey who wore an elegant blue-green Filipiniana ensemble by Ito Curata and matched it with kalachuchi earrings.
Makati Mayor Abigail Binay beautifully carried her off-shoulder nude-colored modern dress by Anthony Ramirez.
Sen. Pia Cayetano wowed the crowd with her hot pink Michael Leyva yakan gown.
Former president and former speaker Gloria Arroyo arrived at the event wearing a Pidayit gown inspired by Aetas of Pampanga by local designer Philip Torres. Pidayit is a form of upcycling scrap material that can be made into beautiful pieces.
Ormoc Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez also walked the red carpet in the South Wing Lobby of the Batasan Pambansa wearing an intricately embroidered lavender mauve terno by Randy Ortiz.
In an interview with Manila Times Entertainment columnist MJ Marfori, Ortiz shared that he made the terno with an expert help from sewers in Bulacan.
The famous designer also created the sleek cream colored Filipiniana of Senator Nancy Binay, which complemented her tanned skin.
A sign of protest
Critics of the administration also have a way of conveying their message through fashion statements.
Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate wore a barong handpainted by Karaptan legal counsel Ma. Sol Taule, showing Chinese and Filipino vessels at sea.
Kabataan Partylist Rep. Sarah Jane Elago wore a royal blue Filipiniana with a handpainted sash that “demonstrates the commitment of the young people to defend the national sovereignity.”
Unifying colors
Senator Imee Marcos was the last VIP to enter the hall. Her eye-catching yellow-gold and red ombre “La Filigrina” gown was designed by Mak Tumang—the creator of the winning “lava gown” of Miss Universe Catriona Gray.
She told the reporters, “Sawang-sawa na ako sa bangayan ng dilaw at pula. Lahat naman tayo Pilipino kaya sinuot ko na ng sabay-sabay. Tapos na ang eleksyon. Let’s move forward.”
(I’m sick and tired of the bickering of the yellow and red. We are all Filipinos that’s why I wore them together. Election is over.)
The post Head turners, stunners and fashion statements at SONA 2019 appeared first on The Manila Times Online.
