Paul Cabral to design Noy's barong for 3rd SONA

MANILA, Philippines - Top designer Paul Cabral - the favorite of the Aquino family - will once again design the barong tagalog that President Aquino will be wearing for his third State of the Nation Address (SONA), a Palace official said yesterday.

“It has always been Mr. Cabral who is making the barong of the President,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said over radio dzRB.

However, she could not give other details as to the design and fabric of the President’s barong tagalog.

Valte added the President is now reviewing the fifth draft of his speech, which was initially 30 pages long.

She said earlier Aquino might use visuals for the SONA on July 23.

Meanwhile, in preparation for the SONA, security officials led by the police, the Presidential Security Group (PSG) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority conducted a “walk-through” along the stretch of Commonwealth and other roads leading to the House.

“We’re doing this for the better appreciation and cooperation of units and participants so that their functions and roles would be clear,” Quezon City Police District director Chief Superintendent Mario de la Vega said.

During the walk-through it was discussed that a portion of the Fairview-bound lane of Commonwealth Avenue, particularly the area allotted for protest rallies, would be closed to traffic.

The other side of the road, on the other hand, would be used for counter-flow.

De la Vega said the first line of defense would be composed of policemen who will be deployed in the area fronting Ever Gotesco mall before a line of concrete barriers and steel railings.

Another line of defense would be a row of container vans to be erected in the area fronting St. Peter Parish.

De la Vega added that a total of 6,422 policemen would be deployed along the roads leading to the Batasan Pambansa complex and the perimeter of the House of Representatives.

The PNP deployment will focus on police visibility and anti-crime efforts of the QCPD.

According to Superintendent Richard Fiesta, head of QCPD’s District Operations and Plans Division, 818 policemen from a civil disturbance management contingent would secure the roads leading to the Batasan, while 150 policemen will be on standby.

Fiesta said they would also deploy an additional 70 policemen to direct traffic.

A total of 3,645 policemen would be deployed during SONA, with 2,777 coming from the QCPD and other units.