From classics to statements: Politicians, celebrities dress up for SONA 2024

Many guests opted to keep it simple yet elegant with classic white ensembles. Heart Evangelista simple white Filipiniana dress by Michael Leyva and styled by Iza Sim. 

Congresswoman Len Alonte also wore Leyva’s all-white dress, with a textured bodice and skirt and a mesh embellishment around the chest and sleeves.

Modern Filipiniana 

Angelica Revilla, wife of Congressman Jolo Revilla, came in a blush pleated modern Filipiniana by Isle. She completed her clean look with a classic high ponytail by Florenz and a dewy makeup look by Carissa Cielo Medved, styled by Cath Sobrevega. 

Emmanuel Aglipay Villar was also present at the event wearing dusty blue terno by Mark Bumgarner. According to Villar, she personally requested the ensemble which was designed in 2017. She completed the look with accessories by Riqueza Jewellery.

Former beauty queen and actress Bianca Manalo donned the Ylang Ylang terno by Jo Rubio, which was made of Chartreuse silk. The butterfly sleeves are adorned with fabric cutworks resembling the Philippines’ native flower, Ylang Ylang.  

Also wearing a creation by Jo Rubio, Manila City Mayor Honey Lacuna came in a black Filipiniana. Describing the creation, Rubio shared that it is embellished with beads inspired by the gold and jewelry of Ongpin, Manila, paying homage to Filipino-Chinese merchants.

Meanwhile, Sen. Pia Cayetano arrived in a black Filipiniana silk gown by Mia Uquico. Her striking dress, which she accessorized with pearl jewelry, had black applique and pleated accents on the bodice.

Another standout is Marga Nograles’ royal blue terno by Puey Quinones. Its butterfly sleeves and skirt hems are designed with round shapes, which appear to resemble a shell.

Internet personality Marianne Louise Aquino Gonzalez wore a custom hand-smocked piña terno with a pleated chiffon bottom by Vania Romoff for this year’s SONA. Her glam look was made by stylist Cath Sobrevega and make-up artist Joan Quizon.  

Dra. Kathy Gorriceta, the wife of Iloilo Secon District Congressman Mike Gorriceta, donned a handwoven dress designed by Ram Silva. The dress is embellished with lace and embroidery which was carefully made by the workers of Women United Through Handcrafted Lace and Embroidery (WUTHLE) which “carries the pride and craftsmanship of those who painstakingly crafted it, passing down generations of skill and artistry.” 

Ormoc Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez came to the Batasang Pambansa with her husband Richard Gomez wearing a powder blue sheer gown by Lulu Tan-Gan. The long-sleeved dress sparkled with silver detailing and cinched at the waist with a delicate belt.

Baro’t saya 

Apart from the usual Filipiniana dresses, politicians and other personalities also wore the traditional baro’t saya. Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte attended the event wearing an upcycled three-piece dress designed by Bree Esplanada of Anthill.

Sen. Loren Legarda exuded a Maria Clara vibe with a beige baro’t saya by Puey Quinones.

Unconventional dresses

Straying away from the traditional dresses, Sen. Imee Marcos was a standout for her Moro armor dress, topping the look with a headpiece that appears like a crown.

Known for their social advocacy, the Makabayan Bloc brought artistic flair to SONA 2024. Through their outfits, they creatively shone a light on pressing concerns like war and oppression, poverty, and workers' rights, among others.

Modern barong tagalog 

Kabataan Patylist Rep. Raoul Manuel wore a handpainted barong by Albert Traqueno which shows “an alternative future envisioned by Filipino youth.” It also had a symbolism for the U.S. and China to send a message that the youth will “fight back against the primordial danger of war and aggression imposed by U.S. provocations against its rival China amid the disunity of warring factions of the ruling dynasties in the country." 

1st District of Cavite Rep. Jolo Revilla, meanwhile, came to the SONA wearing a St. Mary Magdalene 400th-year celebration-inspired barong.

Content creator Boss Toyo was also at the event, wearing a barong with black embroidery.