No ‘Fashion Show’ for President Duterte’s First SONA? There Will Be No Red Carpet, Either!

It has been a tradition for most, if not all, politicians and their respective partners to attend the president’s annual SONA (State of the National Address) while dressed to the nines in the grandest of attires they could get get – and making sure they do not wear the same outfits every year or even be dressed in the same gown as another person attending the event!

This is one of the reasons why the SONA is a much-awaited event not just because it is the time that the president gives an update of the country’s status so far but also because it is a main fashion event in the country! In fact, it is a red carpet event – and often seen as a local counterpart to red carpet events in Hollywood.

This year, however, will be a different one – if Pres. Rodrigo Duterte will have his way. The president, known for being a simple man (he even attended the recent Air Force anniversary celebration wearing what is now dubbed as ‘maong Tagalog’ – the traditional barong Tagalog paired with denim jeans), wishes for the SONA to be as simple as possible.

For his first SONA this coming July 25, 2016, Duterte wants everyone to wear business attire. It seems there will be no pomp and pageantry in the event – and no red carpet, either!

“The leadership wants us to wear business dress, not fashion show attire. The fashion show will be a thing of the past,” says party-list group Ako Bicol representative Rodel Batocabe. “The SONA should not be a parade of stars because the President is just a simple man who doesn’t like walking the red carpet like a Hollywood celebrity.”

Of course, while the president wants the event to be simple and for the attendees to wear business attire, we’re not quite sure whether everyone will follow the directive. This remains to be seen – and we’d surely be watching out for what everyone will be wearing as much as we are excited to hear what the president is going to say for his first SONA!