MANILA, Philippines — If international fashion designer Dennis Lustico is to design a State of the Nation Address (SONA) outfit for Pres. Rodrigo Duterte, what would it look like?
In a recent interview with Philstar.com, Lustico conveyed his design will have minimal changes of what the president already wears.
Duterte will have his second SONA on July 24, which will be held at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City.
When asked what design he can think of for the president, Lustico said he will just alter some components of the clothing.
The chief executive has regularly worn a barong partnered with maong jeans or corduroy pants, as pointed out by Dennis in describing the president’s plain fashion statement.
He specifically mentioned his design will only involve the change of the inside lining of the president’s barong to cotton, emphasizing that the cloth underneath will be the focus of refashioning.
The purpose of this minimal adjustment is to reduce irritation and add a cool vibe of comfortableness toward the president, according to Dennis.
“Ang detail lang ibahin ‘ko. I’m going to line it with a cotton material inside para mas cooler. Also para hindi siya ma-irritate,” Lustico explained.
During Duterte’s first SONA on July 25 of the previous year, he has defined his personal style as simply a Barong Tagalog with rolled-up sleeves and paired with dark-colored pants.
Known for his fierce cursing andovert remarks in his statements, the president usually bears a casual attire when he appears in front of the cameras: checkered polo shirt, denim pants, and a pair of loafers.
Politicians are identified for parading their fashionable and designer clothes during SONA, shaping the event to be commonly reckoned a “fashion show.” Duterte, however, has expressed his stance for a simpler event on his first SONA since he took office on June 30 last year.
In line with this request on dress codes, attendees of SONA are advised by government to wear business attire and Filipiniana or dresses not exceeding knee-length for women, as the purpose of the event is to hear the president’s message and not to admire the extravagance of the attendees’ apparel.