With President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s highly anticipated third State of the Nation Address (SONA) seeing more than 2,000 attendees, its red carpet saw stylish gowns and dashing suits by top fashion designers in the country.
One of the designers who had many of his creations flaunted on the red carpet was Michael Leyva. Some of the personalities who wore his designs were Senate Spouses Foundation Inc. (SSFI) President Heart Evangelista, who wore a gorgeous white modern Filipiniana, and Senate President Chiz Escudero, who looked sharp in a traditional Barong.
Other guests who wore Leyva’s designs were Congresswoman Marylyn Alonte, Special Envoy of the President to UAE for Trade & Investments Ma. Anna Kathryna Pimentel, and Congresswoman Stella Quimbo.
Puey Quinones also had several politicians wear his designs such as Senator Loren Legarda who graced the event in a layered Filipiniana with embroidered details and Congressman Sandro Marcos who wore a simple full callado piña barong.
Civil Service Commission of the Philippines Chairman Karlo Nograles also wore a Barong of Quinones’ design while his wife Philippine Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Chief Operating Officer (COO) Marga Nograles donned a gorgeous blue Filipiniana with circular details resembling the deep blue sea.
Rajo Laurel also had his intricate designs worn by politicians such as Mayor Lani Mercado Revilla, who wore a simple yet elegant off-shoulder Filipiniana adorned with beautiful embroidered flowers. House of Representatives member Jocelyn Pua Tulfo also wore one of Laurel’s designs, which was a chrysalis terno while Congresswoman Karen Javier donned a pink dainty Filipiniana.
Notably, this year’s SONA had a dress code set in place that banned outfits that had derogatory as well as political messages.