Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/LYN RILLON
Ditch the gowns, donate for Marawi instead.
Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez had this to say on Tuesday when asked about the dress code for the upcoming State of the Nation Address (Sona) of President Rodrigo Duterte.
In a radio interview with dzMM, Alvarez urged his colleagues to just don business attire during the Sona.
“Pwedeng ipaalam ko na rin na yung mga imbitado sa Sona ay hindi po kailangan naka-gown tayo, business attire lang pupuwede na po (I would like to inform those who are invited for the Sona that wearing gown is not necessarily required, business attire will do),” Alvarez pleaded in the radio interview.
For years, the Sona has been a venue for celebrity guests and other personalities to flaunt their best designer attire on the red carpet.
During the previous Sona, celebrity Congress members and other personalities still showed up in designer clothes, despite Alvarez’s plea for them to do otherwise.
READ: No fashion show on Duterte’s 1st Sona—Alvarez
Alvarez said these glamorous lawmakers should instead donate their designer gowns, or the money they would spend for these, to the victims of Marawi City, which has been in a month-long crisis after Maute terrorists attacked the Islamic city.
READ: No stopping glam and glitz in Sona
“Mahal po ang gown, i-donate nalang sa Marawi (Gowns are expensive, donate for Marawi instead),” Alvarez said.
President Rodrigo Duterte placed the whole region of Mindanao under martial law following Maute group’s attack in Marawi City. The Chief Executive proposed martial law until the end of the year to put an end to the threat of terrorism in the south.
READ: Duterte wants martial law in Mindanao extended until end of 2017
House Secretary-General Atty. Cesar Pareja earlier said participants were only discouraged, not prohibited, from wearing grandiose attire.
According to the official Sona invitation, guests may wear business attire, Filipiniana dress, or barong.
READ: Sona fashion show not prohibited, but still discouraged—House official
Before Monday’s Sona, Congress will have a special joint session on Saturday, July 22, as called for by the President to tackle the extension of martial law in Mindanao. JPV/rga
READ: Congress to convene on martial law extension Saturday