Female solons use SONA dresses with messages

MANILA, Philippines—Even the cause-oriented turned fashionistas for a day, if only to celebrate President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s last State of the Nation Address.

Two female party-list representatives wowed kibitzers at the House of Representatives Monday by dressing up to express political statements against the Arroyo administration.

Gabriela Representative Liza Maza arrived in the morning session in an off-white terno made of 10-year old cheesecloth (katsa). The bodice and butterfly sleeves were sprinkled with glass and bamboo beads. The skirt featured an acrylic painting by social realist artist Boy Dominguez that showed a smiling President Arroyo sewing gold thread that weaves around the throats of poor people.

Maza said the thread symbolizes Malacañang's unrelenting efforts to promote Charter change.

Dominguez's artwork was free of charge and took two days to complete.

"Boy did everything from conceptualization to execution. My only instruction was that it should not look like a streamer," Maza said.

She added that she meant to sew the cheesecloth into a curtain when she bought it 10 years ago, and apparently forgot about it. She had it sewn into a terno to be worn at the opening session of last year's Congress.

"But there was a plan to walk out so the gown was set aside. This time, however, I really want to wear it in the hopes that this will really be the last SONA of President Arroyo," said Maza who hesitated to identify who made her gown.

The congresswoman described her terno as "very comfortable and cool", adding that it cost her less that a sack of good variety rice which fetches around P2,000.

Maza paired the terno with gold strappy sandals, a gold bracelet, pearl drop earrings, a string of pearls around her neck and an updo.