Gabriela party-list’s Brosas to wear ‘women in economy’ advocacy to Sona 2022

Teacher-activist Mico Selo works on the custom-designed “saya” (skirt) that Gabriela Women’s party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas is expected to wear to the first State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday, July 25, 2022. The drawing describes the valuable role of women in addressing the country’s economic crisis – amid the rising prices of fuel and basic necessities – and in forwarding solutions to critical situations. Photo from Mico Selo

MANILA, Philippines — Gabriela Women’s party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas will wear her advocacy on her skirt for this year’s State of the Nation Address (Sona).

Despite an earlier ban on wearing clothes with political messages, Brosas would continue to don the skirt that displays the “women in economy” cause that the Gabriela party-list vowed to push during the 19th Congress.

The artwork on the lawmaker’s custom-designed “saya” (skirt) was hand-painted by teacher-activist Mico Selo.

According to Selo, the drawing describes the valuable role of women in addressing the country’s economic crisis – amid the rising prices of fuel and basic necessities – and in forwarding solutions to critical situations.

“Ang focus na gusto nila iyong pagtaas ng presyo ng oil at ibang mga basic need, kaya may nilagay ako doon na oil tanks, hawakan ng gasolina, baboy, at saka iyong itlog,” Selo told INQUIRER.net over the phone on Monday.

(The design Gabriela wants focuses on the increasing prices of oil and basic needs, so I painted oil tanks, gasoline pump handles, pigs, and eggs.)

Selo also had an illustration of Gabriela Silang – a female militant leader in Philippine history – take the center stage on Brosas’ skirt.

“Nilagay ko si Gabriela Silang doon sa center…imbis na itak iyong hawak niya, ang ginagawa niya – hinihila niya iyong mga nagtataasan na presyo pababa,” he added.

(I also drew Gabriela Silang in the center and instead of holding a bolo, she can be seen trying to pull the high prices down.)

Gabriela Women’s party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas wears the custom-designed “saya” (skirt) on which artwork by teacher-activist Mico Selo is displayed. The drawing describes the valuable role of women in addressing the country’s economic crisis – amid the rising prices of fuel and basic necessities – and in forwarding solutions to critical situations. Brosas is set to wear the skirt to the first State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday, July 25, 2022. Photo from Mico Selo

Selo then joined the chorus of condemnations aired by several other party-list groups on the earlier issuance of a memorandum by House of Representatives Secretary General Mark Llandro Mendoza that prohibits Sona attendees from wearing clothes that carry a political message.

READ: Party-list groups cry foul over Sona ban on attires with political messages

“Ano bang harm iyong gagawin ng painting? Wala naman siyang harm. Message siya ng Gabriela na sana ito iyong bitbitin natin, isama doon sa plano ng gobyerno. Sana, they take it constructively,” he stressed.

(What harm can a painting bring? Nothing. It just expressed Gabriela’s message, urging the government to have this issue on its agenda. So, I hope they take it constructively.)

Teacher-activist Mico Selo poses beside the custom-designed “saya” (skirt) that Gabriela Women’s party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas is expected to wear to the first State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday, July 25, 2022. The drawing describes the valuable role of women in addressing the country’s economic crisis – amid the rising prices of fuel and basic necessities – and in forwarding solutions to critical situations. Photo from Mico Selo

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