All four Arroyos in House skip SONA

AS expected, the Arroyo family led by former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo snubbed President Aquino’s second state of the nation address yesterday. Mrs. Arroyo was among 261 House members who were present when House Secretary General Marilyn Barua-Yap called the roll at around 10 a.m. for the resumption of the second regular session of the 15th Congress. The ex-president left shortly after the session adjourned to meet with her constituents in Lubao, Pampanga.

"She will be more productive attending barangay meetings than listening to a litany of baseless allegations against her," said Raul Lambino, Arroyo’s legal spokesman. Her sons Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo and Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado and her brother-in-law Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio "Iggy" Arroyo were also present during the morning session but immediately left after the adjournment.

"Masasaktan lang din naman ako diyan," Mikey told reporters.

"It’s ironic for the President to use the SONA, which is supposed to be an occasion to call for unity, to lambaste my mother." Iggy said it was better to just skip the SONA because "it would be more improper for me to walk out if he starts lambasting us."

Among those in attendance were Vice President Jejomar Binay and son Makati Mayor Jun Jun Binay, former presidents Joseph Estrada and Fidel Ramos, and Aquino Cabinet members. Also in attendance were Aquino’s sisters Ma. Elena "Ballsy" Cruz, Aurora Corazon "Pinky" Abelleda, Victoria Elizabeth "Viel" Dee, and showbiz personality Kristina Bernadette "Kris" Aquino.

FASHION STATEMENTS

Former first lady and now Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos wore a pink terno floral dress which she said was "recycled."

Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres, a showbiz personality and wife of actor Richard Gomez, wore a baby pink barong adored with flowers.

Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla, also a showbiz personality like husband Sen. Bong Revilla, wore a barong by award-winning Filipino designer Rajo Laurel.

Other lawmakers who witnessed the SONA turned to fashion to depict what they believe is the real state of the nation.

Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño wore a barong Tagalog with an embroidered material depicting the call for the immediate passage of the Freedom of Information bill which will act as an enabling law to the constitutional provision enshrining freedom of the press. The barong was created by designer Edgar San Diego who is one of the pioneering members of the Fashion Designers Association of the Philippines. According to San Diego, the barong was made of beige silk cocoon with isometric embroidery.

Gabriela Rep. Emmi de Jesus said that instead of making fashion statements, she opted to make her own "fashionable political statements." De Jesus donned a baby pink "panuwelo" as her fashion placard, with lilac nouveau art text spelling out her call to "SCRAP E-VAT" or the expanded value-added tax.

The panuwelo accessorizes a Ruel Rivera gown, a fashion designer from Marikina.

POLITICAL FASHIONISTAS

Gabriela Rep. Luz Ilagan wore a fuchsia and purple kimona with a woman’s face made from a collage of flags of different nations behind black stripes which she said symbolizes the 10 million overseas Filipino workers and their families. The gown was designed by a group of Lumad of Mindanao called Ugat Lahi. Ilagan said the outfit accentuated by a matching handbag with the slogan "Bring Them Home" conveys the plight of distressed OFWs in jail, in death row and in other detention centers because of the government’s failure to repatriate them.

BY WENDELL VIGILIA