MANILA — Aside from the President’s report on the state of the nation, the annual State of the Nation Address (SONA) is famous for the glitz and the glamour.
It’s the time of the year that government officials and guests can don their most fashionable outfit and walk down the red carpet on their way to Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City on Monday, July 27.
This year–President Benigno Aquino III’s sixth and last SONA–the general theme seems to be simplicity and natural elegance. However, simplicity comes at a price. According to some reports, a Filipiniana tierno from a famous designer could fetch anywhere between PhP 25,000 to PhP 50,000 (CAD $715 to $1,432), while a designer barong tagalog could be around PhP 20,000 to PhP 30,000 (CAD $573 to $859).
Here are just some of the attendees from SONA 2015:
President Aquino’s Cabinet Members
Presidential sister and Queen of all Philippine Media Kris Aquino (with sons Josh and Bimby)
Kris Aquino with Sen. Grace Poe and brother Pres. Benigno Aquino III
Advanced Happy Birthday Tita Susan Roces aka Jesusa Sonora Poe, the mom of @sengracepoe… I was just taking their pic, happy to be the photographer- but she called me to join them. Hi tita D @dolorguevarra! 💋 A photo posted by Kris Aquino (@withlovekrisaquino) on
The Aquino Family
Sen. Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero with wife Kapuso actress Heart Evangelista-Escudero
Heart Evangelista @iamhearte #hairbyjerryjavier @abtkurniawan #sona2015 @iamkatrinacruz #innosotto A photo posted by Jerry Javier (@jerrybuanjavier) on
Sarangani Vice Governor Jinkee Pacquiao, wife of “Pambansang Kamao” Manny Pacquiao
Sarangani Representative and ‘Pambansang Kamao’ Manny Pacquiao
On my way to State of the Nation Address! A photo posted by Manny Pacquiao (@mannypacquiao) on
Sen. Sonny Angara and wife Tootsy
💖💖💖 A photo posted by tootsyangara💖💖💖 (@tootsyangara) on
Senators and their spouses at the opening of the 3rd regular session of the 16th Congress
#SONA2015: Group picture with fellow senators & spouses during the opening of the 3rd regular session of the 16th Congress. A photo posted by TG Guingona (@tgguingona) on
Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez with husband actor Richard Gomez
My handsome date for the SONA.🌺🌺🌺
A photo posted by @lucytgomez on
Sen. Bam Aquino with wife Timi Gomez-Aquino and daughter Rory
During last year’s SONA, there was just the two of us <3 <3 <3 #sona2015
A photo posted by @bamaquino on
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