Cover SONA 2024: A look at the most stylish guests and attendees (Photos: Instagram / @tootsyangara and @iamhearte; stylized by Angela Nicole Guiral)
SONA 2024: A look at the most stylish guests and attendees (Photos: Instagram / @tootsyangara and @iamhearte; stylized by Angela Nicole Guiral)
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Sartorial excellence at its finest. Here are the looks that turned heads at this year’s SONA
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr delivered his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 22, reflecting on the administration’s milestones, spotlighting pressing issues and legislative priorities, and setting the agenda for the nation’s future.
As such, all members of the upper and lower bodies of the Philippine Congress, as well as government officials, diplomats, and dignitaries, were present. Such high-profile gathering warrants the utmost formality, and each guest took the opportunity to showcase their finest attire.
From ensembles crafted by the nation’s most talented fashion designers to meaningful pieces depicting relevant issues (despite an earlier directive from the House of Representatives prohibiting such), we round up the most stylish outfits that adorned Batasang Pambansa Complex’s halls.
More from Tatler: Inside the SONA: What happens during a State of the Nation Address in the Philippines?
1. Heart Evangelista
Peplum tops are making a major comeback, and Senate Spouses Foundation president Heart Evangelista, hand in hand with Senate President Chiz Escudero, who is wearing a traditional barong tagalog, leads the charge with style and grace.
Meanwhile, her white Michael Leyva ensemble for the SONA proper embodies the essence of the modern Filipiniana—a sentiment enthusiastically echoed by her fans and admirers in the designer’s latest Instagram post.
Related: Come What May: Inside Heart Evangelista and Chiz Escudero’s vow renewal ceremony
2. Tootsy Angara
Tootsy Angara won’t miss this year’s SONA for the world, especially as it marks a pivotal moment: her husband, Sonny Angara, will attend for the first time as the Department of Education Secretary, and for the last time as a Senator before stepping down in 2025.
In a coral terno by Mark Bumgarner, she declares, “I will be beside you every step of the way as you take on this crucial and challenging endeavour.”
Read more: 6 things you should know about Tootsy Angara
3. Marga Nograles
Above Marga Nograles in a handmade terno hand cut by Filipino fashion designer Puey Quiñones (Photo: Instagram / @marganograles)
Marga Nograles in a handmade terno hand cut by Filipino fashion designer Puey Quiñones (Photo: Instagram / @marganograles)
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For SONA 2024, Marga Nograles wears a stunning blue terno, handmade by Puey Quiñones.
“I paired this stunning piece with my mom’s traditional tambourine, adorned with seed pearls handmade by Filipino jewellery designer Oskar Atendido,” shares Nograles on Instagram.
4. Em Aglipay-Villar
Emmeline Aglipay-Villar, together with husband Senator Mark Villar, made an early entrance at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City.
The lawyer captivated attendees with her stunning blue Filipiniana gown designed by Mark Bumgarner, perfectly accented with silver jewellery by Erica Concepcion Reyes.
5. Loren Legarda
Senator Loren Legarda dazzles in a stunning creation by Puey Quiñones for this year’s SONA, as seen at the designer’s Instagram post.
Earlier, during the Senate’s opening of the third regular session of the 19th Congress, the highlight of her outfit is the several embroidered piña fabrics from her personal collection, paying homage to Filipino craftsmanship and the creativity of Aklanon weavers.
6. Risa Hontiveros
Senator Risa Hontiveros makes a striking impression at the Senate’s opening of the third regular session of the 19th Congress, showcasing a beautifully crafted baro’t saya made from piña fabric designed by Joel Acebuche.
She pairs the look with shoes from Zapateria Marikina and a hand-woven tikog purse.
More from Tatler: Senator Risa Hontiveros shares how she overcomes challenges in the political landscape
7. Brian Poe Llamanzares
Above Brian Poe Llamanzares in Llamanzares Barongs (Photo: Brian Poe Llamanzares and Before Deadlines)
Brian Poe Llamanzares in Llamanzares Barongs (Photo: Brian Poe Llamanzares and Before Deadlines)
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At SONA 2024, Brian Poe Llamanzares wore one of Llamanzares Barongs’ first pieces, the Luna Barong Tagalog, made of piña silk from Aklan. This garment features a modified Batok pattern extending to the upper back, brought to life by traditional Lumban artisans using the callado technique.
8. Toff de Venecia
Congressman Toff De Venecia dons a bangus (milkfish) inspired barong jacket by Randolf Clothing, honouring the Philippines’ national fish, the pride of Pangasinan, and celebrating local craftsmanship.
Related: Fuelling the creative boom: how Toff de Venecia enables the creatives industry to thrive
9. Raoul Manuel
Above Kabataan Partylist representative Raoul Manuel in a barong reworked by Albert Raqueño (Photo: X / @albertraqueno)
Kabataan Partylist representative Raoul Manuel in a barong reworked by Albert Raqueño (Photo: X / @albertraqueno)
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It is not the first time Representative Raoul Manuel wore a barong with hand-painted art by Filipino artist Albert Raqueño.
In an earlier Facebook post, Kabataan Partylist said that the protest wear features a mural of an “alternative future envisioned by Filipino youth painted as a toga hood in front of the barong.”
10. Dr Aivee Teo
11. Geraldine Roman
The country’s first-ever transgender lawmaker, Representative Geraldine Roman, stuns in a red terno designed by Paul Cabral.
“During #SONA2024, we witnessed the love of our President Bongbong Marcos for our beloved Philippines. This is the time to unite and work together for the love of our country,” she posts on Instagram.
More from Tatler: Breaking Barriers: Rep. Geraldine Roman On Public Service And Overcoming Challenges
12. Bianca Manalo
Have you ever heard of the ylang ylang? It is a tropical tree native to some Southeast Asia countries. Bianca Manalo highlights it with her gown for SONA 2024. “I’m wearing a chartreuse silk terno by Jo Rubio,” she says.
Meanwhile, Senator Win Gatchalian wears a Jo Rubio piña callado barong. The linear embroidery design was inspired by the Filipino Brutalist architecture created by the Bulaqueño artisans, a homage to the Filipino National Artist for Architecture Leandro V Locsin.
13. Melissa Yeung Yap
Above Melissa Yeung Yap attends in a Natz Palad ensemble for SONA 2024 (Photo: Facebook / Melissa Yeung Yap)
Melissa Yeung Yap attends in a Natz Palad ensemble for SONA 2024 (Photo: Facebook / Melissa Yeung Yap)
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Melissa Yeung Yap attends her first SONA in a Natz Palad creation. “[Thank you] Natz Palad for making the most comfy dress made out of denim and nine yards of Yakan fabric I got from Ate Evelyn at the Likha Community Fair,” she posts on Facebook.
She pairs the dress with a wooden clutch bag hand-carved with Yakan patterns by her friend Charming Baldemor, denim sandals made in Marikina from her friend Tish, pearls from her mom and Phoebe B, and earrings from Nicole Whisenhunt. “I’m so lucky to have mad talented friends,” she says.
Read more: Melissa Yeung-Yap on the Importance of Filipino-Centrism in Art and Philanthropy
14. Nicole Andersson
Arm in arm with Representative Howard Guinto, Nicole Andersson stuns on the red carpet of SONA 2024 in an exquisite aquamarine terno gown.
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Angela Nicole Regis Guiral is the assistant digital editor of Tatler Philippines. She studied journalism and has since written features that look closely at how culture, lifestyle and social impact converge, while occasionally wandering into the worlds of style and travel.
