Bayan Muna solons reveal ‘protest barongs’ to be worn for Sona 2019

Karapatan legal counsel Ma. Sol Taule holds the barong that she personally hand-painted, which would be worn by Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate for the 2019 Sona. The attire calls for the assertion of Philippine sovereignty and sovereign rights within our exclusive economic zone (EEZ) over the West Philippine Sea. Photo from Bayan Muna

MANILA, Philippines – Fashion is usually a much-talked about facet of every State of the Nation Address (Sona), with guests and lawmakers wearing dashing and glamorous designer suits and dresses for the event.

Critics of the administration also have a way of conveying their message through fashion statements.  For this year though, the focus would be on President Rodrigo Duterte’s alleged “preference of China over local fisherfolk and broken promises on ending contractualization.”

According to Bayan Muna, barongs of Representatives Carlos Zarate and first-termer Ferdinand Gaite are being prepared just in time for the Sona on Monday, July 22.

Zarate will wear a barong handpainted by Karaptan legal counsel Ma. Sol Taule, showing a Chinese and a Filipino ship at sea.  On the other hand, the design for Gaite’s barong shows the P750 minimum wage, represented by a hammer, crushing the practice of “endo” or end-of-contract schemes.

“Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate’s Sona barong handpainted by artist and Karapatan legal counsel, Atty. Ma. Sol Taule, calling for the assertion of Philippine sovereignty and sovereign rights within our exclusive economic zone (EEZ) over the West Philippine Sea, and, the defense of our fisherfolk and environment,” the party-list said in a message to reporters.

“Study sketch of Bayan Muna Rep. Ferdie Gaite’s Sona barong calling for a P750 national minimum wage and an end to endo,” Bayan Muna added.

In the 2018 Sona, members of the previous version of the Makabayan bloc wore barongs and Filipiniana gowns with certain messages conveying their protest.

Then Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Rep. Antonio Tinio went to the Batasan complex with a barong calling for the abolition of tax reform laws, while Rep. France Castro’s attire asked government to stop militarizing areas where Lumads live.

LOOK: What people wore at #SONA2018 

On Tuesday, the Makabayan bloc also announced that they would be attending this year’s Sona, but they will first grace demonstrations along Commonwealth Avenue. /jpv

READ: People’s Sona to tackle things Duterte failed to do