By PRINCE GOLEZ
Manila Reporter
MANILA — Some women senators have drawn negative criticisms from netizens for the gowns they wore when they attended President Benigno Aquino III’s State of the Nation Address (Sona).
Neophyte senator Nancy Binay was the most-talked-about senator at the opening of Congress’ second regular session yesterday, taking a heavy beating on Twitter for wearing an “over-the-top” dress.
The daughter of Vice President Jejomar Binay wore gowns by famous designer Randy Ortiz.
Her morning attire was a “piña blouse with cut work embroidery” and a multicolored “wide-striped touf skirt.”
One netizen noted that Binay’s dress looked like a “ball gown minus the gown.”
Another comment on Twitter said the Ortiz creation resembled a “parachute” and “eggplant.”
Others called the neophyte senator “Miss Korea.”
At the House of Representatives, Binay wore a “pure silk chiffon Terno adorned with linear embroidery” and a “draped skirt.”
On the other hand, Sen. Loren Legarda’s, a tweet said, is similar to those being worn in “Linggo ng Wika.”
“Designs (3 kamays) on her skirt is so 90s. It looks weird [sic],” a Twitter user said.
Some netizens observed that Legarda’s dress was “similar to her Sona 2013 attire.”
Legarda arrived at the Senate session hall wearing a “kinamayan” skirt from Abra.
The skirt was designed with frogs and “3 kamays.” She also wore Cordilleran neck ornaments.
The Antiqueña senator said the frogs represent “abundance,” while the other designs mean “growing palay.”
While some observed that newbie senator Cynthia Villar was the only senator who is “ready to work,” others said had a “poor choice of colors.”
Villar’s gown was created by her cousin, Nolie Hans.
Her morning dress was a “fully callado embroidery orange Kimona with monochromatic embroidery on one side.”
She wore an “orange Terno embroidered with orange vines and cherry blossoms on the bodice” later in the day.
Sen. Pia Cayetano, meanwhile, wore a “red/orange modern Filipiniana with peplum back and laser cut details.”
Her attire was designed by Mia Urquico.
Sen. Grace Poe wore a white Filipiniana created by famous designer Paul Cabral.
Male senators were all garbed in plain Barong Tagalog.
All senators were present during yesterday’s resumption of session except for senators Miriam Defensor–Santiago, Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada, and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr./PN
