The State of the Nation Address (SONA) 2020 is not all about the President’s speech because for Filipinos, it has become a tradition to watch out for what the lawmakers would wear, some even joking the event was a fashion show.
For this year’s SONA, the female lawmakers decided to make the “Araw” brooch as their key fashion statement in support of the local fashion industry.
The SONA brooch, which is a half-sun shape, symbolizes hope and unity. Each piece costs P5,000.
“This SONA brooch is our little way of showing support to our local fashion designers. Kapit lang po, sisikat din ang araw . Pagtulungan natin na magtuloy tuloy ang negosyo. Salamat din na ginagawa ang lahat para manatili ang mga empleyado,” Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo, said in a Viber message.
(Hold on, the sun will rise. Let’s work together so that businesses will continue. Thank you for exhausting all means to ensure that your employees keep their jobs.)
The “Araw” brooch was a collaboration of Amina Aranaz-Alunan, president of the Fashion and Design Council of the Philippines, and Rajo Laurel, top Filipino fashion designer, and the Philippine Fashion Coalition (PFC), Quimbo said.
The lawmaker said the brooch is available in two colors, blue and cream, which signified the PFC’s collection aspiration. A young Filipino accessory brand that works with Gawad Kalinga designed it.
Also read: In brief: Main themes of President Duterte’s State of the Nation Address
SONA 2020 fashion
According to PFC, the blue variant reflects the deep waters surrounding the islands in the Philippines. It also represents the Filipinos’ confidence despite struggles, unity, profound wisdom, and stability.
“Indigenous Inabel fabric is also incorporated into the traditional eight sun rays as the Philippine flag but interpreted in a half-sun symbol that is meant to show that we are always collaborative and become relevant when complemented and made part of the story, and succeedingly, history,” the PFC said.
Rajo Laurel admitted that the local designers’ futures seemed uncertain as they “decide on a month to month basis.”
House of Representatives passed House Bill No. 6815, the Accelerated Recovery and Investments Stimulus for the Economy of the Philippines (ARISE) bill, which was authored by Quimbo.