No fashion show on Duterte’s 1st Sona—Alvarez

DRESS down, don’t outshine the President because it’s his event.

This was the advice of House leaders who plan to adopt a strictly business attire dress code for President Duterte’s first State of the Nation Address (Sona) on July 25 to prevent lawmakers and their guests from making a fashion circus out of what should be the Chief Executive’s time.

But in deference to Duterte’s sartorial tastes, Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez said that the men could opt to pair the formal Barong Tagalog with the rugged look of a jeans just like what the Chief Executive wore at a recent Air Force event at the Clark. “Yes, maong Tagalog is allowed,” said Alvarez, who is expected to be elected Speaker of the 17th Congress.

Alvarez said that the lawmakers and their guests should remember that they were going to a Sona and not a party or social event.

But Alvarez said there was no plan to remove the red carpet or coerce members to follow the dress code as he would rather leave it to their personal judgment.

“The red carpet will still be there but it will be strictly business attire. It’s fine if they are comfortable being overdressed,” said Alvarez.