Part 1
As the nation eagerly awaited President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr.’s third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, some would argue that the true spectacle was the fashion parade that unfolded on the red carpet as officials from all three branches of government arrived at the House of Representatives with their spouses, families, or plus-ones.
Considered the one time of year when politicians are given a pass to dress up and show their fashion sense, the event did not disappoint, leaving much to talk about for us.
Kaleidoscope of colors
Hands down, the emerging trend at SONA 2024 is the ladies’ penchant for colored Filipiniana attire, spelling fun and fresh or absolutely elegant on the red carpet.
Tourism Promotions Board COO Marga Nograles with husband, Civil Service Commission Chairman Karlo Nograles INSTAGRAM PHOTO
Senator Bong Revilla and Cavite Representative Lani Mercado
Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez and Leyte Representative Richard Gomez
Education Secretary Sonny Angara and wife Tootsy
Emmeline Aglipay-Villar and husband Senator Mark Villar
Kathryn Yu-Pimentel and husband Senator Koko Pimentel III ONSITE PHOTOS BY MIKE ALQUINTO AND ORVEN VERDOTE
Isabelle Daza
Bianca Manalo and Senator Sherwin Gatchalian
Emmeline Aglipay-Villar, wife of Senator Mark Villar, stunned in a restored blue satin Filipiniana by Mark Bumgarner, while Bianca Manalo — partner of Senator Win Gatchalian — looked classy in an Ylang-Ylang-inspired chartreuse silk terno designed by Jo Rubio.
Consistently among the best dressed, Tourism Promotions Board COO Marga Nograles opted for a cerulean blue ensemble by Puey Quinones this year. Kathryn Yu-Pimentel, the wife of Senator Koko Pimentel III, wore a long silk lilac blue Filipiniana dress by Jhobes Estrell, while Ormoc, Leyte Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez wore a sheer powder blue gown by Lulu Tan-Gan. Tootsy Angara — Senator Sonny Angara’s wife — was also effortlessly elegant in her blush pink Filipiniana by Mark Bumgarner.
Floral, fresh ensembles also came in a burst of colors, with actress Isabel Daza turning heads in a green modern terno made from pina fabric with white floral appliques by Dennis Lustico and Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte sporting daisies on the bodice of her sweet, yellow Anthill terno. Anthill is a social and cultural enterprise that strives to preserve Philippine weaving traditions by providing sustainable livelihoods for its partner communities.
Lastly, Rep. Lani Mercado — who happily had her husband Sen. Bong Revilla Jr. beside her at the SONA, albeit using a cane as he continues to heal from his knee injury — set aside her usual muted color choices and, while still in trademark Rajo Laurel, chose to wear colorful Mindanaoan textile gifted to her by friends from the south in a modern Filipiniana asymmetric design.
Up next in tomorrow’s issue: “Of whites and ecrus.”
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