Face masks, shields new fashion in time of COVID
No red carpet this time. Instead, face masks and face shields became the fashion statement during the fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Duterte in the time of COVID-19.
The 75-year-old Duterte, who arrived yesterday at the Batasang Pambansa Plenary Hall at exactly 4 p.m., wore a face mask. He removed it when he was about to deliver his speech.
Cabinet members and lawmakers who were physically present at the House of Representatives, led by Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, also donned uniform face masks and face shields.
Due to the COVID-19 threat, only a limited number of people were allowed to attend Duterte’s address this year.
Other government officials, including Vice President Leni Robredo, joined this year’s SONA via video conference. Robredo was seen wearing a Filipiniana outfit.
Meanwhile, women legislators led by Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo sported the Araw brooch created by the Philippine Fashion Coalition.
Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas sported a hand-painted face mask, signifying what she claimed was women’s fight versus tyrant’s machinations amid the pandemic.
Brosas’ face mask featured on one side women struggling for livelihood, health and human rights, while a calligraphy “Defend Human Rights” was printed on the other side.
Lumad leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Eufemia Cullamat donned a red face mask bearing the words, “Defend National Minorities!” and “#StopTheAttacks.”
Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate wore a hand-painted face mask made of abaca, bearing the images of people clamoring for COVID-19 mass testing and the revocation of the Anti-Terrorism Law.
Kabataan Party-list Rep. Sarah Elago wore a hand-painted sash, which reflected “the united calls and continued commitment of the youth, with and alongside the Filipino people, for safe school reopening, quality education, health, labor, human rights, democracy and sovereignty.”
The militant lawmakers joined a protest rally inside the University of the Philippines campus in Diliman, Quezon City.