World leaders to wear Paul Cabral-designed Barongs during APEC

Expect to see the 21 world leaders who will be making their way to Manila for the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting (AELM) to put their suits aside and instead don the Filipino's Barong Tagalog.

GMA 7 news program "24 Oras" reported on Friday that Filipino fashion designer Paul Cabral was tasked to create the Barongs the leaders will wear during the meeting.

The Barongs will be very traditional as they will be made with pineapple fiber - piña.

But each shirt will have embroidery that will be particular to the world leader wearing it. Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, for example, will be wearing a Barong with mosque details; while Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will wear a Barong with a cherry blossom design.

Cabral has been President Benigno Aquino III's go-to fashion designer. He had styled the president for his last State of the Nation Address last July.

Gala night

The meeting won't be purely business. The world leaders are also set to attend a gala night during which Filipino talents take the center stage.

Performers include singers such as Charice, Jessica Sanchez, and apl.de.ap. Asia's Got Talent champion El Gamma Penumbra will also perform during the gala night.

Meanwhile, industrial designer Kenneth Cobonpue has been tapped to design the giveaways for the world leaders.

Aside from Philippines, Brunei, and Japan, APEC members include: Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, United States, and Vietnam.

Leaders from these countries are expected to arrive in the Philippines on November 17, with meetings scheduled on November 18 and 19. — Trisha Macas/DVM, GMA News