the frothy and the fabulous at the sona

salut! 

it's still i, the invincible madam m guest writing for this fabulous and gorgeous blog because my beloved apo is still indisposed just like a certain president of a republic when he is not in the mood to meet guests at the palace. (hangover, perhaps?)

i rarely appreciate the intelligence of other people, but i give it to the smart readers of some newspapers to make sense of the trashy stories being peddled by broadsheets day in and day out in the name of readership, advertising revenue and what-have-you. this time, these smart readers are smarting over the big fashion event (the country's equivalent to the annual met gala in new york or the oscars at los angeles) this side of the third world -- the once-a-year state of the nation address or sona by the chief executive.

while nursing my beloved apo, who has a slight fever but very much depressed lately, i catch on teevee the red carpet extravaganza that would put real fashionistas gwyneth paltrow, angelina jolie and kerry washington to shame. i cringed as the senators, congressmen, and their espouses, as well as government officials, all in the name of public service, paraded like roaches, i mean, peacocks on the red carpet at the batasan complex, displaying their ostentatious lifestyles for all the world to see.

this, while not paying attention or even commenting on the ruckus just in front of the building, where a score of protesters and policemen are hurt in a clash of ideology, philosophy, conviction and deep-seated moral beliefs. it just goes to show how these government officials are so far detached from the true state of the nation. (who cares about the poor except the politicians during elections?! let them eat cassave cake!)

of course, the shallow media lapped it up, like dogs being thrown bones by their masters. 

they are asking inappropriate questions like "who are you wearing?" as though this is the hollywood circus that is the oscars when in fact this is the sona, where everyone should be seriously thinking about the country and where it is headed to. come to think of it,these dumb media people are also contributing to the massive corruption and widespread poverty in this country. instead of discouraging their government servants from indulging in extravagant lifestyles that always lead to corruption (with their low salaries how can they afford a miu miu shoes, for example, or an lv clutch?), they are encouraging them. shameless.

ah, when will the media grow a brain and have some empathy to their poor, suffering kababayans? a real empathy and not just those token donations during typhoons and calamities.

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obviously, i agree with some comments from readers on certain newspapers. this one is from a reader who wants to be known as cato the younger, obviously a brainy one judging from his/her view and the way he/she wrote his/her thoughts, very precise and understandable unlike most respectable journalists that covered the sona (especially those news readers on teevee).

"With all the brand names and the haute couture, you get to wonder how many of these clothes are katas ng PDAF? Heck, even the so-called "cause oriented" members of Congress put up their own fashion show. How about going all-out and wearing a barong or terno made of crocodile or snake skin? That will go down well with all Filipinos for at least getting your metaphors right in your clothing choices (except for probably a few animal rights activists here and there).

"This country would be better off if more lawmakers exerted as much effort in crafting laws as they apparently do in choosing their wardrobe. As for the (name of newspaper), I do not know why it insists on making a fashion show out of the SONA. Come to think of it, did the US newspapers ever made a big fuss of what say Nancy Pelosi wore during the State of the Union address? Too much focus on the banal and superficial. How about coming up with a primer on the legislative agenda from the SONA?"

very smart, right? now i wonder why this country is so screwed up when there are brilliant minds such as cato around?

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if you think cato is a fluke, here is another comment from a reader called kwanrungchung:

"Regardless of the origin of the funds used in the production of their clothes and regardless of whatever section of this newspaper this article is posted, I find it offensive and in bad taste that the elected representatives of the people and the members of the media are concerned of their haute couture on the day when the prime servant or employee of the people reports to his employer.

"Rather than having these expensive gowns and barongs displayed to the public and regardless of whatever message or advocacy was embroidered, posted or implicated in them, I would rather see these "respectable' men and women assume an advocacy for austerity. I would also hope that the media tighten its intellectual screws and realize this is not a "social event" where fashion needs to be underlined and made worthy of commentary."

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what made the red carpet masquerading as sona coverage even worse is this: some enterprising dumb journalists who interviewed "fashion experts" to give their views on national teevee about who are the best dressed and who are not, and who wear what and what not! goodness. they think it's good journalism? it's not even original. 

if i were the editor of these reporters, i would chop their airy heads off and feed them to the sharks! wait, the sharks might die from poisoning. haha. what a waste of airtime and precious advertising revenues! what a waste of precious oxygen!

then we have those brainy newsreaders on teevee who also wear expensive gowns and filipiniana dresses (ayaw patalbog. what do they think they are doing? hosting the ms. universe?! why do they mistake looking fabulous in front of the camera with having the brain to intelligently discuss the major issues of the day? suddenly, i miss ms. tina monzon-palma and mr. angelo castro.) dispensing thoughtful and well-researched comments after reading the news, as if they are just sitting in their living rooms having a tea. as though what they are saying makes any sense at all. 

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now before you point an accusing finger on me, i, being the ultimate fashion icon until now, please hear my plea first. of course our family introduced the chic look in politics. after all, we are the equivalent of the british royalty in this land of a million woes. 

but my dears, have you forgotten? i am already naturally gifted with a regal bearing and the royal look (look at my milky, smooth complexion; my long, silky black hair; my model-worthy height and body) that even if i am wearing a simple terno with matching cheap shoes made from marikina, i look like a million dollars or euros already. i don't need to wear a balenciaga and expensive jewellery just to look regal at the sona! i reserve those when i am meeting the kings, queens, princes and pricesses in europe, united states or the middle east.

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amid all these brouhaha, i am heartened that there is one lawmaker who remains sensible. fresh. simple but elegant. senator loren legarda. now that's one classy lady. she wore a simple black jersey top and a skirt made from indigenous material and she looked fabulous. seriously. even her hair was made up simply.  this former broadcaster should teach all these fashion wannabes in the government a thing or two about dressing up well and dressing up appropriately.

there is always a time and an occasion for everything. my simple advice? in these trying times, when there are so many filipinos dying of poverty, suffering from humiliations and indignities working as servants abroad, living on the streets as beggars and tramps, i say -- please keep it simple. this is not the time for "if you have it, flaunt it." rather, it's the opposite.

also, if you steal from the public coffers, don't steal big. leave something naman for our poor kababayan. 

lastly, if you steal from the government, please don't bring the money overseas. don't let those funds sleep in offshore bank accounts. try to invest instead in the country so that you can help create jobs and build livelihood. di ba? at least by doing so, medjo mabawasan man lang ang kasalanan ninyo. so that instead of you and your entire clan spending an eternity in hell -- but i don't think you believe in heaven and hell -- eh one hundred years na lang ang i-stay nyo dun.

please take it from the expert. been there, done that.  

baboosh!

xoxo

madam m

have a great week ahead.

(photo is taken from a major local newspaper. no copyright infringement intended. please don't try to sue my apo if you don't want to spend what remains of your pathetic life languishing in jail!)