SONA 2014 Fashion: Who’s Fab and Who’s Drab?

MANILA, Philippines—SONA, an annual event where the President delivers governmental issues and concerns in a room full of politicians also became an avenue for the lawmakers to ostentatiously display their designer Filipiniana-inspired outfits.

The lawmakers strutted their way to the red carpet, showcasing sophistication in their glamorous attires, almost like a Hollywood event, that received a lot of conflicting reactions from netizens.

Here are some tweets showing not all can dress to impress:

“@Imcarlkalabaw: Congress fashion? More like People’s Money Fashion. #SONA2014” 

“@nursekeyti: Not sure if today is the President’s #SONA2014 or an Oscar-like red carpet event for the crocs in the government.”

Whilst most beg to bicker, some chose to praise the uniqueness of some oufits:

“@mindanaoan: Leave it to Sen. Loren Legarda to wear beautiful #Mandaya tribe inspired outfit for today’s #SONA2014. Thank you for wearing #Mindanao!”

“ailcua: i love heart evangelista’s #sona gown..simple and elegant.. even her hair and make up kumabog..”

According to Kicker Daily News, the best-dressed was Actress Heart Evangelista, girlfriend of Senator Chiz Escudero. Heart Evangelista rocked the red carpet with her white “skeletal terno”, a modern Filipiniana with cage terno sleeves, by designer Carey Santiago.

(Photo credits: philstar.com) 

While the scene-stealers are Presidential sister Kris Aquino, with her striking yellow gown, also by Carey Santiago; Leyte 4th District Representative Lucy Torres-Gomez, who dressed in a nude-colored terno dress created by Randy Ortiz; Senator Loren Legarda took a very tribal ensemble, wearing a Mandaya tribe-inspired outfit. According to an interview, her outfit was given by the indigenous people of Davao. However, netizens have badly criticized Senator Nancy Binay’s peculiar gown—a hybrid of a Filipiniana and the Korean Hanbok made by Paul Cabral. Mommy Dionisia Pacquiao wore a white gown with benign green sequined details—which in an interview Mommy D said that it symbolizes his son’s favorite ulam, tinola. When asked who designed her gown, Mommy D simply replied: “Basta taga-Maynila.”

(Photo credits: localpulse.net) 

(Photo credits: Rappler.com)

(Photo credits: fabfashionandstyle.com)

(Photo credits: canadianinquirer.net)

 On the other hand, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago was appalled with the mondaine habit of her fellow lawgivers. She addressed the habit as an “obsession to bling”, which she thinks should not be continued in the next years. Last year, Sen. Miriam proposed a Senate resolution prescribing an official uniform for lawmakers to wear during political events like SONA. 

 The resolution states that women legislators should wear a short pencil skirt, paired with a simple barong blouse, with jewelry being limited to a single strand of Philippine pearls and men legislators should wear a plain long-sleeved barong; both men and women should wear a ceremonial ribbon with the Congress logo; while the audience could wear office attire. 

 Senator Nancy Binay expresses her support to Santiago’s resolution to dress simply in political events like SONA and says that people should bring back the focus on the real purpose of SONA, because it usually centers on what the people are wearing. 

 As of writing, Sen Miriam’s resolution is still pending at the Senate Committee on Rules headed by Alan Peter Cayetano.