SONA FASHION: WHO TURNED HEADS

IF vibrant Mindanaoan-inspired attires dominated President Rodrigo Duterte’s second State of the Nation Address a year ago in deference to the war in Marawi, a more toned down color palette

dressed legislators and guests at the Batasang Pambansa on Monday, mostly in whites, blacks and a spattering of primary shades in reds, blues and purples.

But just like both previous Duterte SONAs, almost everyone adhered to the President’s preferred dress code of simple Filipiniana or business attire.

Perhaps the most “lavish” numbers that showed up at the House – still with hardly any beadwork or glittering embellishments – were those of Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos who turned heads in a fiery red Rocky Gathercole, and the statuesque Bataan First District Representative Geraldine Roman, the first openly transgender woman in the Philippine Congress, who was a vision in a royal blue terno by Filipiniana genius Paul Cabral.

Marcos, in a brief interview with The

Manila Times, explained that she chose the international Filipino designer Gathercole to make her SONA gown because of his amazing success story. A battered child, Gathercole left home at age 14, and a high school undergraduate who sought a bright future in the Middle East. It was in the United Arab Emirates that his employer helped Gathercole become the avant- garde designer he is today, who designs wardrobes for such A-listers like Katy Perry and Paris Jackson. As Marcos said, “He is proof the Filipino can.”

Early birds

Among the officials and visitors who walked the red carpet in style ahead of the President’s speech was movie and television actress Vivian Velez.

A staunch and very vocal Duterte supporter since the campaign, Velez is known not to back down from word wars, especially with fellow celebrities on the other side of the fence.

All in black as she surprised waiting media at the House with her very early arrival, the actress was clad in a Dolce and Gabbana jacket, showing only pearls for a touch of Filipiniana.

Speaking with The Manila Times,

Velez said of her choice of outfit, “I just want to be comfortable with I’m wearing today.”

Public Attorney’s Office chief, lawyer Persida Acosta, also got a thumbs up among

the early arrivals dressed in a deep purple lace off-shoulder gown that just had the right amount of glitter. Incidentally, the PAO chief has a daily column in The Manila Times titled “Dear PAO.”

Senate slate

Traversing Metro Manila from the Senate in Pasay City all the way to the House of Representatives on Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City, most of the senators chose classic barong Tagalog pieces in piña fabric.

Senator Joel Villanueva was among the first to arrive among the senior legislators, whose barong with onyx buttons echoed his wife Gladys’ modernized black Filipiniana dress, highlighted with a layering of delicate tambourine necklaces. The pair chose favorite Cabral to design their SONA outfits.

Senator JV Ejercito wore a Randy Ortiz barong, and on his Instagram account proudly posted that his shoes were “gawang Marikina” (made in Marikina) by Antonio de Manila. His wife, former model Hyacinth “Cindy Lotuaco-Ejercito, went for a sleeveless

barong- inspired Edwin Tan white kneelength dress.

Also in white and off-white among the Senate spouses were annual SONA fashion stars Heart Evangelista-Escudero, Tootsy Echaus-Angara and Audrey Tan-Zubiri.

Sen. Francis Escudero’s celebrity wife, perennially tagged as SONA’s Best Dressed, wore a very clever white Filipiniana suit, with its modern jacket featuring classic butterfly sleeves. Earlier at the Senate, Evangelista also wore a white mid-length

terno, pinning a rainbow flag on her left chest to join the call for equality.

Incidentally, the SONA marked the actress’ first public appearance since she and Escudero lost their twins to miscarriages in June.

Sen. Jaun Edgardo Angara’s wife Tootsy wore the same white off-shoulder dress both to the Senate and Congress and, like Evangelista, wore a rainbow flag on her chest.

Among the ladies in white – off- white in to be precise in her case – Sen. Miguel Zubiri’s wife definitely made it to the Best Dressed list again in her modernized baro’t

saya, with oversized sleeves and floral embroidery.

In black and white were Sen. Loren Legarda, smart and sophisticated in her empire- cut Maria Clara-inspired gown, fashionably mixing a delicate piña calado with a long velvet skirt; and Sen. Grace Poe in an understated black and white terno with floral appliqués on the skirt.

Senators Pia Cayetano and Risa Hontiveros made a splash with colors, with the former wearing a Mindanaoan Aztec skirt and black blouse by Mia Ortigo, and the latter who replaced her off-white butterfly-sleeved bolero at the Senate’s morning session with a silken white one, sporting hand-painted flowers on the sleeves.

Styles of protest

Gabriela’s Rep. Emmi de Jesus unveiled her “protest wear” via a straightforward black barong beaded with the words “Babae Ako,” calling for an end to abuses against women.

She arrived with ACT-Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio who made news earlier that morning when the Makabayan bloc announced plans to nominate him as Speaker. He raised his fist as cameras started to flash, echoing the fist on his barong that bore the words, “Suweldo itaas! Ngayon

na! TRAIN ibasura!”

Presidential family

Last and definitely not the least, President Duterte’s family--who chose to avoid the main entrance to the House of Representatives--were all very well- dressed as they flew in all the way from Davao to give their patriarch moral support at his SONA.

Davao City Mayor Sarah Duterte- Carpio and her mother, the President’s ex-wife Elizabeth Zimmerman, wore Cebu-based designer Cary Santiago gowns in blue and red, respectively.

Carpio, in an interview with GMA Network’s “24” Oras, said she also asked the same designer to prepare the

barong of her brothers Paolo and Sebastian, who until the last minute had not confirmed their attendance. Both brothers were, however, spotted in the gallery and several media posts, both of them accompanied by their significant others. Paolo had his wife January by side, while Sebastian’s partner Kate Necessario was also in attendance.

Finally, the President’s common-law wife Honeylet Avanceña looked very stunning in a green and gold terno, while their only daughter Kitty Duterte – once rumored to be interested in joining show businesses – looked fresh and youthful in a deep-red velvet Filipiniana.