Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Members of an inter-agency coordinating committee conduct a walk through on July 15, 2024, as the House of Representatives prepares for the coming State Of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on July 22. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

CONGRESS-SONA

Vivienne Gulla

RG Cruz

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175341499194420240715-congress-sona-preps-JC-7853.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Members of an inter-agency coordinating committee conduct a walk through on July 15, 2024, as the House of Representatives prepares for the coming State Of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on July 22. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Both the Senate and the House of Representatives on Friday said they will be toning down the spectacle for President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.&#x27;s 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA), an annual ceremony where the fashion usually gets talked about as much as the President&#x27;s speech.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/life/multimedia/video/07/27/23/mga-tradisyon-at-tema-ng-mga-ootd-sa-sona">Patrol ng Pilipino: Mga tradisyon at tema ng mga &#x27;OOTD&#x27; sa SONA</a></div><p>On Friday, the House of Representatives issued a memorandum urging its members “to avoid ostentatious displays and exercise discretion in their wardrobe choices&quot; on Monday, which will also be the opening of the 20th Congress.</p><p>House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said this was &quot;in solidarity&quot; with the Filipinos affected by the recent weather calamities in several regions.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/25/25-dead-due-to-tropical-cyclones-habagat-ndrrmc-0913">25 dead due to tropical cyclones, habagat: NDRRMC</a></div><p>Among the &quot;adjustments&quot; to be made was focused on the traditional red carpet and fashion-related spectacle during SONAs.</p><p>&quot;The red carpet will be in place strictly for ingress and official protocol. There will be no staged ceremonies, fashion coverage, or photo setups in the red carpet area. Members may still be approached by media for brief, impromptu interviews,&quot; Velasco said.</p><p>The House said formal attire is still required and members are &quot;encouraged to wear traditional barong or Filipiniana in keeping with the solemn tone of the occasion.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Members are respectfully urged to avoid ostentatious displays and exercise discretion in their wardrobe choices,&quot; the memo added.</p><p>&quot;These adjustments reflect our solidarity with affected communities and our commitment to uphold the dignity of this national gathering. We thank you for your understanding and cooperation,&quot; Velasco said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>SENATE</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Meanwhile, Senate President Francis &quot;Chiz&quot; Escudero said the Senate will also implement the same protocol when it opens its session Monday morning, before the senators head to the Batasan for Marcos&#x27; SONA.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/22/marcos-suspends-all-pre-sona-preps-as-ph-suffers-severe-flooding-1122">Marcos suspends all pre-SONA preps as PH suffers severe flooding</a></div><p>&quot;No red carpet at the Senate… with suitable access and opportunity for media to perform their job of covering the opening.&quot; Escudero said in a text message.</p><p>On Thursday, senators urged the toning down of the &quot;pageantry&quot; associated with SONAs following the recent weather disturbances.</p><p>&quot;Sana itong darating na  SONA, less of the pageantry, hindi dapat maging magarbo at gawing fashion show dahil sa kadadaan lamang kalamidad, marami ang nasalanta at naghihirap,&quot; Sen. JV Ejercito said in a social media post.</p><p>The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on Friday said monsoon rains driven by a string of tropical cyclones have left at least 25 people dead since last week.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QAVba0YrG6I?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YlKQOPdUpp0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7NRM5IjewIo?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>"The red carpet will be in place strictly for ingress and official protocol. There will be no staged ceremonies, fashion coverage, or photo setups in the red carpet area," the House of Representatives said.</p>

"The red carpet will be in place strictly for ingress and official protocol. There will be no staged ceremonies, fashion coverage, or photo setups in the red carpet area," the House of Representatives said.

'No fashion coverage': House, Senate to tone down SONA spectacle amid 'recent calamities'

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'No fashion coverage': House, Senate to tone down SONA spectacle amid 'recent calamities'

Jauhn Etienne Villaruel,

Vivienne Gulla,

RG Cruz,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 25, 2025 11:46 AM PHT

|

Updated Jul 25, 2025 12:18 PM PHT

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SONA

State of the Nation Address

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