House Secretary General: Filipiniana attire for SONA only required for lawmakers

Although the annual State of the Nation Address (SONA) has become a fashion show of sorts in recent years, an official of the House of Representatives clarified that the Filipiniana dress code is actually just for lawmakers.

House Secretary General Marilyn Barua Yap said there is no stopping the other guests from wearing business attire to the event.

“The only thing na nakalagay sa invitation is pwedeng barong, [Filipiniana] or business attire. It’s always been that way,” she told reporters Monday.

Barua Yap said House rules require lawmakers to don Filipiniana attire for the President’s SONA.

“For members of Congress, the rules of the House provide [that lawmakers wear] long-sleeved Barong Tagalog, barong Filipina with sleeves para sa mga babae. Hindi puwede yung short-sleeved dresses, sleeveless or strappy outfits. Kasama ‘yan sa decorum,” she said.

Since the House rules apply only to lawmakers, she said other guests to the event are not bound by it.

“Maybe the bigger pressure in terms of putting a little bit more [effort in dressing up] will be on the House members, but not on the other guests,” she said.

Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s choice for Speaker in the incoming 17th Congress, has expressed preference for having guests to the SONA wear business attire instead of glamorous barongs and gowns, saying they need not dress up as if they were going to a party.

Asked if the House will be rolling out the red carpet for Duterte’s first SONA since he is not known to be big on formal gestures, Barua Yap said the special flooring material has a practical purpose. 

“The carpet is there not because gusto nating [rumampa ang mga bisita] na parang artista. Usually umuulan sa SONA. If you don’t put anything there or if you put the black [rubber mat] na may butas-butas, puwedeng sumabit ang sapatos. You’ll have a problem. [Having a red carpet is] more of a practical idea than pa-drama idea,” she said. — RSJ, GMA News