SONA a fashion event for lawmakers, spouses

MANILA, Philippines - Militant lawmakers again took advantage of the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Aquino yesterday to express their sentiments through fashion. Watch related video

However, most of the female lawmakers were elegantly dressed in ternos done by famous Filipino designers.

The SONA for many years has become a fashion event for legislators, their spouses and families.

Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares wore a barong tagalog designed by Renan Ortiz of the Concerned Artists of Philippines. It had a Lady Justice design with the blindfold lowered, calling the government to end impunity, extra-judicial killings and corruption.

“There is still a lot to be done by the Aquino administration to address the problems of extra-judicial killings and disappearances in the country. It is sad to say that more than 40 cases of activist and media killings have been recorded during the current administration and this has got to stop,” Colmenares said.

Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro Casiño, meanwhile, donned a barong by designer Edgar San Diego which was inspired by one of his pet advocacies - the Freedom of Information Bill (FOI). The bill remains pending in Congress a year after it was filed.

Casiño said his barong was made of beige silk cocoon with an embroidered material on top depicting the call for the immediate passage of the measure.

Luzviminda Ilagan of the Gabriela party-list wore a Filipiniana kimona and skirt designed by a Davao-based designer. Ilagan hails from Mindanao.

She said the purple and fuchsia kimona has beads on the sleeves which follow the traditional design of the Lumads of Mindanao. Her skirt has a design of a woman’s face made of flags of different nations and black stripes which symbolize overseas Filipino workers in jail or in distress.

“It is high time that the Aquino government also focus on the plight of OFWs and not just when some are in death row,” Ilagan said.

Gabriela Rep. Emmi de Jesus was clad in a Roel Rivera gown accessorized with a baby pink panuwelo with lilac nouveau art text “Scrap Evat.”

Party-list Rep. Raymond Palatino attended the SONA in a modern Katipunero attire, calling for the revival of the legacy of “KKK,” which he said has been bastardized by the dominance of the “Kamag-anak, Kaklase, Kaibigan” group in the government.

KKK was a secret organization led by Andres Bonifacio. It stands for Kataas-taasan, Kagalang-galang na Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan or Katipunan.

Meanwhile, Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez looked glamorous in her pink Filipiniana gown by Randy Ortiz. Her husband, actor Richard Gomez was clad in barong also by Ortiz.

DIWA party-list Rep. Emmeline Aglipay was dressed in a Cary Santiago violet serpentina cut gown with pleating along the bodice and hips and laser cuts at the hem.

Zambales Rep. Milagros Magsaysay donned a Josie Ronario black and gold terno made from Indian cotton.

Bernadette Herrera-Dy of Bagong Henerasyon party-list wore a white Filipiniana gown with black lace and yellow ribbon by Pepsi Herrera.

Pampanga Rep. Anna York Bondoc donned a floral multi-colored printed terno by Capampangan designer Roi Gonzales. In the morning, she wore a red above-the-knee modern kimona also by Gonzales.

Cebu Rep. Rachel Marguerite del Mar wore a beige Grecian inspired draped gown made from natural piña cocoon adorned with hand-embroidered rosette by Randy Ortiz.

You Against Corruption and Poverty (Yacap) party-List Rep. Carol Jayne Lopez was clad in a Paul Cabral-designed gown made from T’nalak weavings. T’nalak weaving is made from abaca fiber that is stripped from the abaca tree, cleaned, dried and separated into strands.

Malabon Rep. Josephine Veronique Lacson-Noel wore a periwinkle blue cobweb embroidered tulle overlay, adorned with flowers and cut glass beads and Swarovski stones at the waist.

Among the personalities spotted at the Batasang Pambansa were Vice President Jejomar Binay and wife Elenita; former presidents Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada; Timor Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta; former House speaker Jose de Venecia; Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista and Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte; and newly appointed Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales.

Presidential sister Kris Aquino, in a white terno, was seen sitting beside rumored boyfriend Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay Jr.

Pangasinan Rep. Gina de Venecia, dressed in a yellow terno, was among the officials who escorted the President to the session hall to deliver his speech.

Loren vs Pia

Senators Loren Legarda and Pia Cayetano tried to outdo each other yesterday with their respective fashionable gowns during the resumption of the second regular session of the 15th Congress as well as at President Aquino’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the House of Representatives.

At the SONA, Legarda wore a tube black gown created by Paul Cabral with a long embroidered shawl from Lumban, Laguna.

During the opening of session at the Senate yesterday morning, Legarda’s gown was designed by Dennis Martin “because I want to promote young Filipino designers.” 

She also wore a “beautiful handcrafted necklace” done in the Philippines by her friend Celestina while her earrings were diamond and ruby, an heirloom from her late mother.

Cayetano’s outfits, meanwhile, were designed by Mia Urquico. 

At the Senate, Cayetano wore a modern take on the traditional panuelo (off-shoulder) in two-tone oyster gray and silver gray jersey off gown, with cascading soft ruffles at the back.

At the SONA, Cayetano wore a silver-gray modern Filipiniana, highlighted with a red/blue panuelo. Known for her sporty lifestyle, Cayetano revealed a full tan on her bare back.

Cayetano’s younger brother, minority leader Alan Peter also wore a barong made of piña and water lily. Alan Cayetano said his barong did not bear any message compared to some of his counterparts at the House but it was a show of support for local materials and Filipino designers. – With Christina Mendez