Solons make fashion statement: Protect the Philippines’ sovereignty

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate with Ka Bobby, a fisherman from Zambales, clad in hand-painted barongs attend President Rodrigo Duterte’s fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA). Photo by Krissy Aguilar/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Some lawmakers who attended President Rodrigo Duterte’s fourth State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday took fashion statement to another level.

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate wore a barong hand-painted with an illustration of a Filipino and a Chinese ship at sea.

“Para sa assertion ng ating national sovereignty dahil ngayon nga isang mainit na usapin yung sa West Philippine Sea,” Zarate explained.

The illustration also shows the Chinese fisherman’s fishing rod trying to transfer one of the Philippine flag’s star in its own flag.

“Kita niyo naman yung isang star nakuha na ng China. Ipaglaban natin ang ating sovereignty. Panawagan sa Duterte administration, wag ipaglanulog ang ating teritoryo, ang ating pambansang soberenya,” Zarate added.

Kabataan Party-list Rep. Sarah Elago likewise made a bold statement through her hand-painted sash which also symbolized her protest to protect the West Philippine Sea.

Kabataan Party-list Rep. Sarah Elago flaunts her sash protesting to protect the country’s sovereignty. Photo by Krissy Aguilar/INQUIRER.net

“Para sa kabuhayan, karapatan sa soberanya tsaka sa demokrasya. Pangunahin diyan yung pagtatanggol ng pambansang soberanya natin sa West Philippine Sea, yun yung pinapakita ng sash ko,” Elago said in an ambush interview.

Elago was accompanied by her guests who also wore sashes as a protest to protect fishermen and the victims of the administration’s drug war.

“Tapos ito naman yung sa mga guest ko. Nandito yung mga protest nila. Isang anak ng mangingisda, isang kapatid ng natokhang,” Elago said.

“Tapos may mga kasama din ako TNVS [transport network vehicle service] drivers na nananawagan para sa kabuhayan at disenteng sahod,” she added.

Sister of an extra-judicial killing victim wears a sash with a call to stop the killings in the administration’s drug war. Photo by Christia Ramos/INQUIRER.net