With their haute couture garbs expressing their ‘advocacies,’ displaying craftsmanship and artistry of local talents, women senators strolled down the first-ever “Red Carpet Wall” in the Senate during the third State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Presidential sister Senator Imee Marcos dazzled the red carpet in a Rem Divino gown whose sleeves were handpainted with images of gapas and ani.
The gown is made of local materials inspired by the Amorsolo painting, “Planting Rice.”
Marcos has been actively calling for rice sufficiency and reduction of rice importation.
Senator Loren Legarda, meanwhile, continues to proudly showcase Filipino heritage through her choice of attire.
Renowned for wearing Filipino-made outfits even on regular days, Legarda embraces the beauty of Filipino culture and tradition by wearing an elegant Maria Clara-inspired ensemble designed by Puey Quiñones.
The gown features vintage embroidered pure piña fabric from Legarda’s personal collection, adding a touch of timeless elegance.
The ensemble includes a pañuelo and a multilayered skirt with sunburst electric pleats over embroidered, beaded, and Callado piña tapis.
In the morning, she wore a piña barong paired with a handwoven cotton fabric wrap-around pleated skirt, a modified patadyong, also designed by Quiñones.
Senator Grace Poe was in Filipino terno reflecting her optimism as she capped 12 years of serving the people as a legislator.
Poe walked the red carpet in a one-piece white silk crepe terno designed by Filipino fashion master Paul Cabral.
The gown features a small semi-bias skirt that flows and two-tone beadwork of gold and silver minute bugle beads inspired by leaves.
In the morning, she donned another Cabral couture of simple sheath white silk crepe dress cut in the hips with piña fabric combination on top detailed with different types of vintage lace.
Sen. Nancy Binay graced the red carpet in an exquisite all-piña terno by designer Randy Ortiz.
It was meticulously handloom-woven by the master artisans of Aklan.
The terno’s bodice captivates with its delicate Calado patterns, vintage beadwork, and intricate dove-gray rose cutwork.
The skirt is a vision of opulence, adorned with motifs of palay (rice stalks) rendered in grain-shaped pearl beads, and finished with a flourish of Calado floral embroidery at the hemline.
Senator Risa Hontiveros wore a sleek interpretation of the Baro’t Saya made of piña designed by Joel Acebuche.
Her shoes are from Zapateria Marikina and she used a handwoven Tikog purse.
Senator Cynthia Villar was in a recycled Noli Hans gown, with the orange color representing Villars’ political color.
The towering Senator Pia Cayetano was glamorous in her white gown.
