Tribal mayor upstages Congress fashionistas

MANILA, Philippines – While most female lawmakers wore Filipiniana dresses at the eighth State of the Nation Address of President Arroyo yesterday, a mayor of a fifth-class municipality in Quirino province stole the show, wearing a tribal attire that left little to the imagination.

A television report showed Nagtipunan Mayor Rosario Camma in tribal clothing as he arrived at the House of Representatives.

In her speech, Mrs. Arroyo cited Camma, a former chieftain of Bugkalot, for helping 15,000 members of the Bugkalot tribe develop irrigation, plant vegetables and corn and achieve food sufficiency following the distribution of 100,000 Certificates of Ancestral Domain Title (CIDT) for Bugkalots in Quirino, Aurora and Nueva Vizcaya.

“Naipapakita namin diyan (sa pagsusuot) ang aming kultura,” said Camma.

Camma apparently proved to all and sundry – senators, congressmen, diplomatic corps, Supreme Court justices and Cabinet members - that it was not cold in the session hall after all, as he just wore his blue G-string during the entire duration of the event.

Aside from Mrs. Arroyo, members of the first family, particularly the two presidential sons and representatives Juan Miguel and Diosdado Arroyo, also wore eco-friendly clothes.

Some members of the Arroyo Cabinet wore simple, locally made and eco-friendly barongs and Filipiniana dresses.

Science Secretary Estrella Alabastro wore her brownish-black Filipiniana dress that was dyed using extracts of talisay and atsuete.

Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral wore a blue terno pants and blouse which she said was an ethnic attire in Cotabato.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Trade Secretary Peter Favilla both wore barongs made from Batangas and Bulacan.

Press Secretary Jesus Dureza was dressed in a barong by US-based Filipino designer Anthony Legarda, who also designed the dress worn by the President in the 8th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Science and Technology Week held recently in Manila.

Meantime, Sen. Joker Arroyo described as “rapacious” the bare back of Sen. Loren Legarda in her daring gown.

Legarda and other female senators Pia Cayetano, Jamby Madrigal and Miriam Santiago, took time to dress up for yesterday’s SONA.

Legarda said she wore a backless black gown made by Paul Cabral to “mourn” the current state of the country.

Elegantly made and adorned with lace on its V-shaped neck, the gown did not cost Legarda a centavo because she said it was just lent to her.

At the opening of session in the Senate, she wore a piña gown from Lumban, Quezon, also by Cabral.

She said her bag was from Celestina, a high-end brand marketed abroad but made in Cebu and tambourine necklace from Meycauayan, Bulacan.

Cayetano wore a pink and beige gown first at the Senate and then changed into a modern Maria Clara inspired gown for the SONA, also backless.

“Color is chartreuse designed by Mia Urquico. I chose this color because it being a shade of green is symbolic of our need to go green,” Cayetano said.

Madrigal donned a gray Patis Tesoro gown but decided not to attend the SONA.

Santiago wore a light pink off shoulder gown.

Others in the audience managed to steal the limelight as well even just on television.

At the gallery, actress Dawn Zulueta, wife of Davao del Norte Rep. Anton Lagdameo, was striking in her long, gray gown.

Senator Arroyo said he did not like attending SONAs because it was just becoming a fashion show. - With Delon Porcalla, Aurea Calica