Philippines arts, culture showcased at Asean gala dinner

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will showcase the best of Filipino arts and culture at tomorrow’s gala dinner to be hosted by President Duterte for the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and dialogue partners and their spouses at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

Three of the country’s top designers – Albert Andrada, Rajo Laurel and Randy Ortiz – were tapped to create the barong tagalog for the male leaders and Filipiniana for their wives and female leaders.

The male leaders will wear an embroidered piña cocoon barong designed by Andrada, according to the President’s Social Secretary Annalyn Tolentino.

She said the embroidery designs are different for each leader and dialogue partner.

Each barong is named after distinct Filipino qualities such as “magiting,” “magiliw,” “marangal,” “mapayapa” and “magalang.”

The ASEAN logo is also showcased through the garment’s customized buttons found in the center front and cuffs, Tolentino said.

Meanwhile, the Filipiniana attire – designed by Laurel, Andrada and Ortiz – has a design inspired by the country’s three major Philippine islands: “terno” made of high-quality poly Thai silk for Luzon, “baro’t saya” made of piña cocoon for the Visayas, and a Mindanao-inspired garment made of piña cloth and special fabric. 

Duterte’s attire will be the same as the leaders and designed by Andrada. Duterte’s partner, Honeylet Avanceña, will be wearing her own Filipiniana garment, Tolentino said.

The guests will be greeted by giant lanterns from San Fernando, Pampanga.

They will be treated to a four-course Filipino-Asian menu by chef Jessie Sincioco and Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila.

Sincioco, an award-winning chef and patissier, prepared Pope Francis’ meals when he visited the country in January 2015.

The guests will be entertained by an orchestra, a marching band, a rock band, and some soloists who will perform their version of “Manila.” There will also be ballet, folk, ballroom, tap and contemporary dance performances.