THE President’s annual address to the nation is always a major event as he presents his vision and roadmap for the country.
And as the country’s leading political figures come out in droves to listen to the chief executive, they also bring their fashion A game to the occasion.
Here are some of the looks that turned heads on the red carpet at the Batasang Pambansa.
Vice President Sara Duterte was among the few personalities at the SONA who championed tribal fashion when she donned a Maguidanaoan dress to pay homage to the Moro tribe living in Central Mindanao.
According to the Office of the Vice President official Facebook page, the dress is called a Bangala.
Vice President Sara Duterte via Office of the Vice President Official Facebook
The outfit made by Cotabato City-based designer Israel Ellah Ungkakay had inaul, a local fabric sourced from cotton and silk, and was symbolic of the tribe’s valor, honor and cultural heritage.
Last year, the Vice President wore the traditional dress of the Bagobo Tagabawa tribe.
Senator Imee Marcos also went with tribal wear for the SONA. She paid homage to the Igorot people in her Lagunawa-inspired or “Anak ng Kalinga” outfit.
It was personally given to her by the tribe from the Cordilleras as a show of appreciation for her support of the region’s Gulay Revolution.
Photo courtesy: Sen. Imee Marcos via Senator Imee Marcos Facebook
For the Senate session, Marcos went for a purple dress with butterfly sleeves and a bow on the neckline. In an interview with the media, she described her look as “parang Barbie lang.”
The senator also said she only imitated her mother former First Lady Imelda Marcos’ previous outfits.
Photo courtesy: Sen. Imee Marcos via @officialimeemarcos Instagram
Global fashion icon Heart Evangelista has proven her capacity to steal the spotlight, and this year was no exception.
Hot off her show-stopping GMA Gala 2023 appearance, the 38-year-old actress was a vision in an all-white ensemble by Filipino designer Ivarluski Aseron for the opening ceremony of the Senate, where she joined husband Sen. Chiz Escudero.
Photo courtesy: Heart Evangelista via @iamhearte Instagram
For the SONA proper, she kept it classy and timeless in her cutout column Filipiniana gown with embellished pearls and crystals by renowned Filipino designer Michael Leyva.
Photo courtesy: Heart Evangelista via @iamhearte Instagram
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri’s wife Audrey Tan Zubiri was blooming in her floral Rajo Laurel creations for the opening of the Senate session and the SONA.
Photo courtesy: Audrey Tan Zubiri via @rajolaurel Instagram
Photo courtesy: Audrey Tan Zubiri via @audreytanzubiri Instagram
Senator Nancy Binay went for a fully-embroidered pale powder blue Filipiniana terno gown at the opening of the second regular session of the Senate. For the SONA-proper, she changed into a white modern Filipiniana gown with organza sheer details by Filipino designer Michael Leyva.
Photo courtesy: Sen. Nancy Binay via @michaelleyva_ Instagram
Senator Loren Legarda opted to deviate from the norm of wearing new and expensive designer pieces, and instead proudly recycled a 20-year-old pinya liniwan hand embroidered top designed by Filipina fashion designer and heritage conservationist Patis Tesoro for the Senate session. It was hand embroidered by the women of Lumban, Laguna. She also wore Marikina-made shoes by entrepreneur and shoemaker Tish Sevilla, and a colorful bag by young talented designer Carissa Cruz-Evangelista.
Photo courtesy: Sen. Loren Legarda via @iamlorenlegarda Instagram
Legarda later changed into another Filipiniana terno designed with red, blue and green prints for the President’s address.
Senator Loren Legarda. Photo by John Ryan Baldemor
Biñan City Lone District Representative Len Alone was a sight to behold in her french lace, white tasseled couture Filipiniana gown by Leyva.
Photo courtesy: Rep. Len Alonte via @michaelleyva_ Instagram
Senator Mark Villar’s wife, Atty. Emmelline Yan Aglipay Villar, is yet another Leyva muse who opted for an all-white modern Filipiniana at the Senate.
Photo courtesy: Atty. Emmillene Aglipay Villar via @michaelleyva_ Instagram
She later on changed into a floral draped Filipiniana gown by Filipino fashion designer Lesley Mobo.
Photo courtesy: Atty. Emmeline Aglipay @emaglipayvillar Instagram
Sen. Koko Pimentel’s wife, Kathryna Yu-Pimentel, accompanied her husband in an elegant moss green draped Filipiniana gown by Jhobes Estrella at the Senate session.
Photo courtesy: Kathryna Yu-Pimentel via @jhobesestrella Instagram
She later changed into her white and blue draped modern Filipiniana gown by Leyva for the SONA.
Photo courtesy: Kathryna Yu-Pimentel via @michaelleyva_ Instagram
Cavite Rep. Jolo Revilla’s wife Angelica Alita lived up to her beauty queen roots in her ethereal draped Filipiniana gown with floral applique details by Leyva.
Photo courtesy: Angelica Alita via @michaelleyva_ Instagram
Tootsie Angara, wife of Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, came to the Senate in a pastel green and floral “balintawak” gown by Mobo, while her husband went for a simple barong Tagalog.
Photo courtesy: Sen. Sonny Angara with wife Tootsy Angara via @tootsyangara Instagram
The couple then had an outfit change for the SONA proper; the Senator, who is a self-confessed advocate of #TatakPinoy, wore an Inaul-designed barong while his wife changed into a modern tapis Filipiniana creation by Mobo.
Photo courtesy: Sen. Sonny Angara with wife Tootsy Angara via @alagangangara Twitter
Comedian Jervy Li, also known as KaladKaren, was the epitome of regal beauty in her violet Martin Bautista dress.
Photo courtesy: KaladKaren via @kaladkaren Instagram
Taguig Mayor Maria Laarni “Lani” Cayetano was simple yet very elegant in her ecru Filipiniana piña dress with flower cutout details by Leyva.
Photo courtesy: Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano via @michaelleyva_ Instagram
Public Attorney’s Office Chief Persida Rueda-Acosta was regal in her classic burgundy Filipiniana.
Photo courtesy: Dr. Persida V. Rueda-Acosta via @persidaacosta Twitter
Alliance of Concerned Teachers Rep. France Castro wore a hand-painted skirt by artist Michael Joselo.
Photo courtesy: Representative France Castro of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers via Gabriela Women’s Party Facebook.
Leyte Rep. Richard Gomez and wife Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez were an ever regal pair; Gomez was dapper in his classic barong Tagalog, while Torres’ beauty drew attention in her simple Filipiniana gown.
Leyte Fourth District Representative Richard Gomez and wife Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez. Photo by John Ryan Baldemor
Drivers United for Mass Progress and Equal Rights – Philippines Taxi Drivers Association (Dumper-PTDA) Rep. Claudine Diana Bautista Lim wore an elegant black Filipiniana by Paul Cabral.
Pangasinan Rep. Rachel Arenas also came in her elegant Cabral Filipiniana creation. She was joined by her mother Baby Arenas.
Pangasinan Rep. Rachel Arenas with mom Baby Arenas
