MANILA, Philippines — Hours before President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos Jr. delivered his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday afternoon, senators opened the third regular session of the 19th Congress in style.
Spectators eagerly awaited the politicians and their spouses’ attire for the historical occasion, watching from the stands, on television, and on social media.
Senate President Francis Escudero, donning a Taal-made Piña barong, walked side by side with his wife, actress and fashion icon Heart Evangelista, who stunned in a modern white Filipiniana terno, both designed by Michael Leyva.
Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano and wife Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano
Former Senate president Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri
Sen. Imee Marcos
Sen. Nancy Binay and husband Jose Angeles
Sen. Robin Padilla
Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. and wife Congresswoman Lani Mercado
Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III and wife Kathryna Yu-Pimentel
Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero and wife Heart Evangelista PHOTOS COURTESY OF MIKE ALQUINTO
Sen. Mark Villar and wife Emmeline Villar
Sen. Raffy Tulfo and wife Jocelyn
Sen. Lito Lapid with his son Mark Lapid
Sen. Grace Poe and husband Teodoro Llamanzares
Sen. Bato Dela Rosa and wife Nancy Comandante
Sen. Cynthia Villar
Sen. Loren Legarda
Former Senate president Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri amused the red carpet as he “moonwalked” in an “old recycled Tesoros” barong.
Despite suffering a partial tear of his Achilles heel while filming a movie, actor-Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. channeled his inner”‘ilustrado” in a barong and walking cane, accompanied by his wife, Congresswoman Lani Mercado, who wore a floral pink-green Filipiniana.
His pals, fellow actors-turned-senators Lito Lapid and Robin Padilla, were both in their classic barong with Padilla putting on a printed white shirt with the words “Kalayaan” as his inner wear.
Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa sported a barong with black-gray embroideries, walking the red carpet with his wife Nancy Comandante, who wore a pink “banig-patterned” Filipiniana.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros, a staunch LGBTQIA ally, donned a rainbow flower pin on her Joel Acebuche-designed Piña baro’t saya, with shoes from Zapateria Marikina.
Sen. Grace Poe kept it simple in a white silk crepe terno designed by Paul Cabral, accompanied by her husband Teodoro Llamanzares.
Sen. Nancy Binay stunned in a white Randy Ortiz Filipiniana adorned with Aklan-made floral details, accompanied by her husband Jose Angeles.
Sen. Raffy Tulfo, in a simple barong, was joined by his wife, Rep.Jocelyn Tulfo of ACT-CIS partylist, who wore an elegant red Filipiniana adorned with a “banig pattern” and roses.
Sen. Imee Marcos walked the red carpet with pride in her painted Filipiniana, inspired by Fernando Amorsolo’s “Planting Rice” painting.
Sen. Mark Villar kept things simple in a classic barong, while his wife Emmeline Villar looked exquisite in traditional Filipino attire with furry sleeves.
Sen. Loren Legarda, a promoter of upcycling indigenous materials, wore a terno with an ethnic print, a vibrant skirt, and a traditional blouse, while Sen. Cynthia Villar arrived with her orange Filipiniana terno.
Cayetano siblings, Pia and Alan Peter, meanwhile, wore an elegant white terno and barong, respectively.
Lastly, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, in a traditional barong, walked the red carpet with his wife Kathryna Yu-Pimentel, who wore a long silk lilac blue Filipiniana dress.
WITH REPORTS BY KRISTINE VERGARA AND VIANY FARO
Be the first to comment