Senator Nancy Binay arrived at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City for President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, wearing an elegant ivory Filipiniana with floral details designed by Randy Ortiz.
The choice of attire holds sentimental value for Binay. “When I got elected in 2013, Randy Ortiz made my outfit. This is my last SONA, so I thought it fitting that my first and last SONA outfits be by Randy Ortiz,” she told GMA Integrated News.
The Filipiniana was crafted from piña fabric sourced from Aklan. “A year ago, piña was declared a UNESCO world heritage fabric,” Binay explained. “There are challenges in producing this fabric, and hopefully by showcasing it, we can garner more support for its propagation, as we need to increase the production of pineapple used for piña.”
This SONA marks Binay’s final term in the Senate. During the opening session of the 19th Congress earlier that morning, she mentioned to reporters, “Next year, a different Binay will walk here.”
Marcos’ SONA is expected to address several pressing issues, including the escalating conflict in the West Philippine Sea with China, which has led to diplomatic protests from Manila and ongoing bilateral discussions to manage the disputes.