Red carpet fashion in first Aquino SONA is not all yellow

In case you expected it, the color of the day during President Noynoy Aquino’s first state of the nation address wasn’t all yellow. As legislators and guests arrived at the North Wing of the Batasang Pambansa, the red carpet glittered with all the colors of the rainbow.

Just like the previous years' SONAs, the politicians, their wives and guests wore various interpretations of the barong, baro’t saya and Maria Clara. Some matched their gowns with designer accoutrements while some chose to make bold fashion statements.

You hardly notice the men who all seem to look the same during events like these. After all, they don’t have many fashion choices other than the traditional barong. But party-list Rep. Teddy Casiño decided to stand out from the crowd and make a statement with his barong, which had a red and black symbol of a dead body superimposed with a bulls' eye sign in front. Underneath the image was the word “STOP" in big bold letters and the message: "Stop the killings in the Philippines."

Among the first to sashay down the red carpet was former senator Nikki Coseteng, who wore a green gown with a glittering alampay. She accented her look with a gray pearl necklace, silver slingbacks, and a Ferragamo clutch.


Ilocos Norte Representative Imelda Marcos was mobbed by photographers as she made her way to the plenary hall. Marcos preened in front of the camera wearing a purple Maria Clara adorned with black and silver flowers.

Aurora Representative Sonny Angara's wife Tootsie was a vision in beige with a simple yet eye-catching Maria Clara. Her elegant outfit was shirred at the shoulder and adorned with glittering silver flowers, a beautiful piece made by designer Cary Santiago.

Former actress and now Cavite Congresswoman Lani Mercado arrived arm in arm with dashing husband, Senator Bong Revilla. Her hair coiffed in a classic bun, Mercado wore a simple pink Maria Clara with jewel embellishments paired with a silver Chanel clutch.

Pasay City Congresswoman Emi Calixto Rubiano was also pretty in fuschia, wearing a conservative long-sleeved gown accented with golden embroidery designed by Thelma Daquioag.


Meanwhile, Rep. Kim Bernardo Lokin from the party-list group Citizen's Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) wore a hybrid terno designed by Paul Cabral. A standout from the terno-wearing crowd, her outfit was an interesting mix of an off-shoulder silver and orange top paired with an orange saya and draped with a lime green, orange and fuschia tapis.

For some solons, fashion runs in the family. San Jose Del Monte City Rep. Arthur Robes, his wife Rida and son Gabriel all came in matching black and white outfits. The congressman and his son wore off-white barongs with black collars and cuffs while the pregnant Mrs. Robes wore an elegant embroidered gown with black trimmings. - By Jayme Brucal-Gatbonton, YA, GMANews.TV