Bayang Barrios's SONA outfit point to ethnic roots

MANILA, Philippines — Tres Marias’s Bayang Barrios who has been selected to perform the Philippine National Anthem at President Rodrigo Duterte's first State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday will wear an ensemble that would pay homage to her roots.

The alternative musician who hails from Agusan del Sur is a Manobo native. She is well-known for songs that promote the welfare of indigenous people and songs that gear the youths towards nature appreciation.

A day before the SONA, designer Joel Abuche shared a photo of the ensemble. The photo shows a red fabric embedded with colored beads and patterns that represent the Manobo Colors.

Abuche is a designer known for dressing beauty queens. He also headlined in 2012 for completing the Oblation-inspired UP Pep Squad costume in merely 48 hours.

For the past years, SONA has served as platform for lawmakers to promote the products of local designers.

Aside from singing the National Anthem, Bayang together with Cooky Chua and The Benjamins will also sing “Tinatanggi.”