An evening of elegant Filipino culture

First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos accompanied her husband, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., to the Vin d’Honneur at Malacañang on the evening of 12 June, the Philippines’ 127th Independence Day.

The event is hosted by the President twice a year — on New Year’s Eve and on Independence Day.

Mrs. Marcos called the gathering “beautiful and meaningful.”

“More than a celebration, it was a moment of connection — grounded on our shared values of peace, respect and friendship,” she wrote on social media.

The First Lady was delighted to see members of the Diplomatic Corps and their spouses donning bespoke Filipino traditional clothing — the barong Tagalog and the Filipiniana.

“It was heartwarming to see members of the diplomatic corps don Filipino creations by some of our most brilliant designers. A simple gesture, but one that spoke volumes about appreciation, solidarity and love for our culture,” she said.

Some of the designers featured were Avel Bacudio, Dennis Lustico, Francis Libiran, Jun Escario, Lulu Tan-Gan, Michael Leyva and Philip Rodriguez.

The First Lady wore a red Filipiniana terno, complementing the barong Tagalog worn by the President.

Fans of Mrs. Marcos were wowed by the look of the First Couple.

“You look elegant. You are an ideal mother and wife,” one user wrote.

“We’re proud to have a First Lady who joins in building bridges for a stronger Philippines,” another person commented.

The evening ended with a grand fireworks display that was reflected on the scenic Pasig River.