So what if SoNA is a fashion show?

Last Monday, in time for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s fifth State of the Nation Address (SoNA), broadcaster Karen Davila tweeted a comment that was nothing new: SoNA is not a fashion show.

But what's so wrong about a fashion show? It is quite obvious that the occasion is where the President gives his annual report. Can't there be a wiser or newer comment — on the points, perhaps, that BBM raised? The fact that Karen commented on fashion means she also can't get fashion out of her head when it comes to SoNA.

Because, whether we like it or not, fashion is already a part of it – not only among politicians who flaunt their wealth, but also among leftist groups, the Makabayan Bloc representatives who use fashion as means of protest.

So what, then, is wrong about fashion at the SoNA?

Presidents, First Ladies and First Families themselves are often the first to post their photo shoots wearing Filipiniana. Like them or not, the Marcoses wear Marikina shoes. At last year's Tindahan ni Tarsee, DAILY TRIBUNE's annual advocacy fair that promotes small businesses, I interviewed a Marikina shoemaker who's proud of what he does not because his shoes are worn at the SoNA red carpet — but because support like that enables him to send his kids to college. So what, then, is so wrong if these political clans and senatorial and congressional wives showcase their Filipino beauty, grace and the craftsmanship of their clothes at least once a year?

For me, "not a fashion show" is derogatory. It means "fashion" is seen as only superficial and all about ostentatiousness and extravagance — when it's not. Remember that behind the glamor are teams of Filipino designers, sewers, artisans and other people being given decent and legal livelihood. Every glam shot, even that of a politician or a politician's wife, becomes a promotional material, a postcard of the Philippines to the world — that we have beautiful and elegant Filipinos and Filipinas that don't only have high taste — but are proud of their own national costumes. Isn't that a better image of the Philippines and Filipinos than poverty porn?

Remember: the Philippines and Filipinos are not all bad and not all about poverty. Every day, Filipinos are facing both sweet and bitter realities — so let the bitter ones be addressed by the President and the sweet ones come in the form of fashion, which at least, provides some form of entertainment and good vibes among SoNA watchers.

Listening to over an hour of speech could be boring; but having something like a SoNA red carpet event lightens things up and serves as an appetizer — a welcome distraction. Corruption and societal ills — we Filipinos eat those for breakfast every day that they've become sickening and overrated. So at least, seeing some semblance of beauty among our politicians — even just outwardly through their clothes and looks that sometimes become memes that also entertain us — calms us down, balances and makes us excited to watch or tune in to an otherwise over an hour-long of blah, blah, blah.

Also, fashion doesn't always mean expensive. While the SoNA could be an occasion to spot hints of ill-gotten wealth, it also inspires the masses to appreciate owning and wearing Filipiniana in modern prints, silhouettes and applications other than just for weddings, Buwan ng Wika and funerals. SoNA or not, fashion has been engraved in Philippine culture — Filipinos, wherever they are, love to dress up and to flaunt their style especially during special occasions — and whether like it or not, the SoNA is a presidential event, so it is a highly special occasion, so why dress less for it than in a barrio fiesta?

What is a fashion show? Traditionally, it's where designers showcase collections to buyers, or to present the latest trends to the world. But for our Filipino designers and artisans, it also showcases their passion, craftsmanship and dedication to keep our national costumes relevant and alive. So let us not demean fashion and demonize a fashion show — because if the SoNA is a fashion show that entertains our kababayans, invigorates our creatives and crafts industries and educates our next generations about our national wear — then, why not?