Gabriela Women’s Partylist Rep. Arlene Brosas wears gown with ‘clear message to demilitarize the West Philippine Sea’

Gabriela Women’s Partylist Representative Arlene Brosas once again wore a protest ensemble at President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City on Monday.

Rep. Brosas wore a black lace dress by Francis Yepez Yu, with a train featuring a painting by artist-activist Michael Joselo. The painting showed the Philippine flag, the sea filled with boats on the blue side of the flag, and a woman with her fist up on the red side.

Brosas also donned on a crochet rainbow-colored flower pin not like Sen. Risa Hontiveros', and a pin of the Philippine flag.

“Hindi po ‘to fashion statement,” Brosas told GMA News Online on the SONA red carpet. "Ito ay clear message to demilitarize the West Philippine Sea."

“’Yan po ang ating mensahe: soberanya para sa ating mga kababaihan at sambayanan,” she added.

In 2023, Rep. Brosas wore a pink ensemble, with the lower part of her top also painted by Joselo. The art piece featured women workers who fight for increased salaries such as farmers and fisherfolk. On top of the women is a crocodile wearing a barong.

President Marcos is set to deliver his third SONA, scheduled for 4 p.m. Politicians and their guests from across the Philippines are now arriving at the event.

Some of the current pressing issues in the country include the rising conflict in the West Philippine Sea against global superpower China, which has prompted Manila to lodge diplomatic protests against Beijing, and officials from both countries to hold a bilateral meeting to manage the ongoing disputes in the region.

Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas’ black dress is a “clear message to demilitarize the West Philippine Sea.” pic.twitter.com/yA3dgUuW9J

— Carby Basina (@CarbyGMANews) July 22, 2024

— Nika Roque/LA, GMA Integrated News