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The State of the Nation Address (SONA) is a political pulse check as much as it’s a cultural barometer. Alongside the President’s legislative outlook, the event delivers a declaration of identity through fashion. In an age of rapidly shifting narratives and digital dilution, what our leaders and their partners choose to wear holds symbolic weight. It incorporates presence, power, and proudly pinning our identity onto the global fabric of style. Documenting the best dressed at SONA is not just a matter of style coverage, but cultural record-keeping.
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Heart Evangelista – Escudero
A study in restraint and surprise, Heart Evangelista wore a crisp barong top and woven Filipiniana skirt for the opening, then an intricate terno with wave-like details that let the craftsmanship speak for itself, both by Michael Leyva.
Cong. Kathy Gorriceta
A sculpted silhouette woven by the Baje community of Leon, Iloilo with design by Ram Silva. The banig technique gives the terno texture, weight, and a sense of history.
Em Aglipay – Villar
Piña calado is reimagined with an asymmetrical cut. Modern, but still unmistakably ours through the work of Ivar Aseron.
Atty. Margarita Gutierrez
Sunlit and statuesque in a yellow terno with soft draping that moved like liquid gold by Mark Bumgarner.
Dr. Aivee Teo
Lace-lined and softly structured, this Filipiniana by Paul Cabral found its power in detail.
Tootsy Angara
Abaca silk from Abra rendered into a Filipiniana by Rajo Laurel felt rooted and romantic.
Jaja Chiongbian-Rama
Jaja Chiongbian-Rama stuns in a pleated white terno by Cary Santiago, a masterclass in modern Filipiniana couture.
Pia Jauncey
In a sequined two-piece skirt suit set by Mark Bumgarner, Pia Jauncey turned diplomacy into style. The butterfly sleeves and skirt showcased subtle shimmer, while two brooches on her lapel—the Philippine flag and LoveYourself—signaled the work she represents at OWWA and as ambassador for HIV awareness.
The SONA can tell a parallel story to the President’s speech: one that speaks of continuity, innovation, and collective vision. Fashion at this moment carries more than aesthetic ambition—it affirms values, sparks conversation, and foregrounds the creative talent across the archipelago. As we catalog the standout looks of 2025, we trace the threads of a nation in motion; dressed for the future but always grounded with our heritage.
Photos: HEART EVANGELISTA – ESCUDERO, CONG. KATHY GORRICETA, EM VILLAR – AGLIPAY, ATTY. MARGARITA GUTIERREZ, DR. AIVEE TEO, TOOTSY ANGARA, and PIA JAINCEY (via Instagram)
