World leaders to wear intricately designed Barong, Filipiniana
The elegant Philippine national costumes – the Barong Tagalog and the Filipiniana – intricately designed by top fashion names, will be worn by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders and dialogue partners, and their spouses during the Special Gala Celebration of ASEAN's 50th anniversary Sunday.
The Gala was moved to the night before the opening of the 31st ASEAN Summit, from the usual event to culminate the Summit.
President Duterte's Social Secretary Annalyn Tolentino said the Barong Tagalog that will be worn by the men will be designed by top fashion designers.
"Embroidered piña cocoon Barong Tagalog, designed by one of the country's top fashion designers Albert Andrada, will be worn by males," she said in a statement.
Each design of a barong has a theme and is named after distinct Filipino qualities such as "magiting," "magiliw," "marangal," "mapayapa," "magalang," among others.
The ASEAN logo is carried by the garment's customized buttons in the front and the cuffs.
The elegant Filipiniana attires that the ladies will be wearing were designed by Andrada,Rajo Laurel, Randy Ortiz and other well-known Filipino designers.
"It has a design theme inspired by the three major Philippine islands: 'Terno' made of high-quality poly Thai silk for Luzon, 'baro't saya' made of piña cocoon for the Visayas, and a Mindanao-inspired garment made of piña cloth and special fabric," Tolentino said.
Duterte's attire will also be designed by Andrada, she said. Honeylet Avanceña, the President’s partner, will be wearing her own Filipinianagown.
Filipino hospitality The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) had earlier revealed that President Duterte will lead the Gala dinner at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City on Sunday.
One of the two objectives of the gala is to celebrate the Summit with ASEAN and dialogue partner leaders, their spouses, and their respective delegations, through “a special brand of Filipino hospitality” befitting world leaders, the PCOO said.
It also aims to showcase the “best of Filipino artistry and talent” through an evening of outstanding Philippine music, dance, design, and culinary arts.
Spouses’ tour Meanwhile, Ms. Avanceña will play host to the spouses of the delegates, in thetour of an exhibition on the ASEAN's golden anniversary at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Little Theater.
The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) has put up a presentation – ASEAN at 50: Power as Flow – a show of artifacts, images, and texts featuring the history of the Southeast Asian people who, for the past years, have excelled in trade, art, and culture, the PCOO said.
The tour of the exhibition is planned for Monday.
"The exhibition will highlight the organization’s plans to sustain the region’s water resources – from proper management through reservoirs and other hydrological infrastructures, to the protection of marine species and ecosystems," the PCOO said.
The NCCA will lead the event, in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and with the assistance of CulturAid, Inc. and the CCP.
TAO, Inc., founder Marian PastorRoces and cultural stalwart Cora Alvina will guide the spouses during the tour. TAO Inci is a museum and exhibition development corporation.
Manila Hotel lunch
A spouses’ luncheon, held at the Manila Hotel, will treat guests to a four-course Filipino menu to be prepared by the hotel’s executive chef Konrad Walter.
Ortiz's "Manila Wear" fashion show will entertain the guests during the luncheon.
Avanceña has prepared boxes of the world-renowned chocolate produced in Malagos, Davao City as her personal gifts to the spouses of the leaders, Tolentino said.