Low-key Filipiniana designs that spark hope at SONA 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t just caused a disruption in the world’s economy and healthcare system. For two years in a row, it has also upended the best-laid plans of designers and their muses on the SONA red carpet at the Batasang Pambasa.
With COVID-19 cases again slowly on the rise because of the more contagious Delta variant, only a fraction of VIPs attended President Rodrigo Duterte’s final State of the Nation Address (SONA). The virtual fashion showdown of senators, representatives, Cabinet ministers and their spouses was a shadow of its old self, as both North and South wings of the Batasan were partly turned into COVID testing sites.
“They could still pass through both wings, but gone are the days when they would stop and chat with groups of reporters and have their pictures taken,” said a source who requested not to be identified. “There’s a small area in the South wing where they did a low-key ribbon cutting earlier. Other than that, wala talaga! Their constituents might rise up in arms kung rumampa pa sila in the middle of a pandemic.”
But certain ladies who were brave or driven enough to physically attend the event didn’t disappoint in their Filipiniana outfits. To honor the importance of the event without appearing clueless or oblivious to other people’s suffering, the operative words were to come in clean, low-key Filipiniana designs that spark hope instead of eliciting shock and awe. And came they did.
A number of looks were also made from materials hand-crafted by Filipino artisans from the countryside, adding not only more depth and meaning to the wearers’ SONA outfits, but also providing much-needed sources of livelihood to countless indigenous folks and their families.
Here’s a sampling.
Rep. Stella Quimbo
This emerald green Mikado silk terno top and ball skirt by Marga Nograles of Kaayo is hand-beaded using upcycled materials by the T’boli tribe living along Lake Sebu in Mindanao. Long a champion of clothes incorporating materials made by indigenous Filipinos, the congresswoman from Marikina didn’t let the occasion pass without showing her patriotism on her sleeves (and bodice).
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte
Designed by Ronaldo Arnaldo, this celadon green dress in a classic terno was made more wearable and apropos to the afternoon event because of its abbreviated length. It features an asymmetric draped skirt with bow insert details and leaf embroidery accents on the bodice and sleeves.
Justice Usec Emmeline Aglipay-Villar
Her beige and black “banig” terno with inverted sleeves is the handiwork of designer Ivar Aseron, who first unveiled a similar piece at the TernoCon 2020 event.
Rep. Len Alonte-Naguiat
The slim lawmaker from the city of Biñan looks six-feet tall in Michael Leyva’s cream pantsuit terno made of silk gazar mixed with piña silk. Apart from the oversized folded details on the bodice, nothing gets in the way of the look, creating one continuous and uninterrupted silhouette from top to bottom.
Rep. Sol Aragones
It only took a Michael Leyva for the congresswoman from Laguna to chuck her old, elaborate and often busy SONA choices in favor of this sleek and semi-structured terno with subtle polka dot details in fuchsia. Again, for his main material, Michael used a blend of silk gazar, piña silk and abel fabric from Abra.
Rep. Bernadette Herrera Dy
The party-list representative of Bagong Henerasyon also sought the assistance of Marga Nograles and her Kaayo team, who came up with
this form-flaterring terno made of locally woven material and hand-embellished with T’boli-inspired beadwork by sewers from Mindanao.
Senator Grace Poe
For Senator Poe, Michael Leyva designed a two-piece black-and-white terno ensemble made of silk gazar. Adding to the short skirt’s casual, afternoon vibe is it’s A-line silhouette.
Rep. Kristine Singson-Meehan
The congresswoman from the second district of Ilocos Sur opted for a two-piece ensemble also from Kaayo. Consisting of a puff-sleeved top handwoven by Sabangan Abel weavers from Ilocos Sur and a handwoven A-line skirt ball skirt from Marawi, the outfit was literally sourced from both ends of the country.
Rep. Cheryl Deloso-Montalla
The congresswoman from Zambales sought designer Randy Ortiz, who fashioned an iconic lubid or rope-embroidered terno in blush pink.
