President Bongbong Marcos or “PBBM” will deliver his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) today. During the term of his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, there was a call for legislators to tone down their attire for the SONA.
Since PBBM took over as chief executive, however, no such instruction or request has been issued, though House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said that outfits containing protest, derogatory statements, or illustrations are banned from the 2024 SONA.
Aside from hearing the President’s speech, I’m sure many people are also looking forward to seeing what our lawmakers will be wearing. The SONA will certainly be the perfect excuse for politicians, government executives and guests to dress up and parade the ternos, barongs, dresses, ensembles, and accessories fashioned by our talented Filipino designers.
This year, I am especially excited to see what the First Lady will be wearing since she is a staunch supporter of Philippine fashion and culture. We can also be assured that Pres. Bongbong Marcos will be impeccably dressed in a way that will highlight his boyish looks.
I’m sure one of the most anticipated public figures who will be walking the red carpet will be headturner and fashion icon Heart Evangelista, who recently became the president of the Senate Spouses Foundation after husband Chiz Escudero was elected Senate president a few months ago.
Among the lady senators, Loren Legarda, Risa Hontiveros and Presidential Sister Imee Marcos have always been advocates of local artisans, who use indigenous materials, so it will be exciting to see what they will be wearing.
I will also be on the lookout for Sen. Grace Poe, who will surely be wearing a Paul Cabral creation. Tootsy Angara, wife of former senator and now secretary of the Department of Education Sonny Angara, is unsure (as of this writing) as to who she will wear since she just arrived yesterday from a family trip (minus her husband) to the Mediterranean. Then, there is the elegant and charming wife of Sen. Koko Pimentel, Kathryn Yu-Pimentel, newly-appointed special envoy to the United Arab Emirates, who will wear Jhobes Estrella of Laguna for the Senate’s opening session this morning and then don a Michael Leyva creation in the afternoon for the SONA.
I also admire the fashion sense of Department of Tourism Sec. Cristina Frasco, who is always poised and trendy. She will probably wear an outfit made by a fashion designer who is a Cebuano like her.
As for Congress, Marivic Pilar of Quezon City, Rida Robes of San Jose Del Monte, and Richelle Singson of Ako Ilocano Ako partylist and her dad, former governor of Ilocos Sur, Chavit Singson will all be wearing Francis Libiran.
Another congresswoman to watch out for is Stella Quimbo of Marikina City, who will be wearing Michael Leyva, while Rachel Arenas, representative of the third district of Pangasinan will be in a Paul Cabral original.
But more than the looks and outfits on display on the red carpet, it will be the substance of the President’s speech that the whole nation will eagerly await. As reported in this paper last Thursday, the President took a day-off from his public appearances to personally write his speech. I am one of those who is hopeful that he will announce the total ban on POGOs.