House SecGen: Outfits with protest, derogatory designs prohibited at SONA

Guests wearing outfits containing protest, derogatory statements or illustrations will be banned from attending President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos  Jr.’s third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 22, House  Secretary General Reginald Velasco said Tuesday.

“This is a formal event. We will be very strict in the expression of protest in a SONA outfit. They'll be requested to change [their outfit if they don't follow this rule] because it is the SONA. It is not a day of protest,” Velasco told reporters.

As an example, Velasco said that a traditional jeep illustration embroidered on a SONA outfit would be allowed since it celebrates a part of the country's culture.

But a  SONA outfit with the slogan "No to jeepney modernization" was prohibited.

“If you want to protest on SONA day, there are areas reserved for your protest or demonstration. This is not the time and place to express protests. You can do that after,” Velasco added.

“If you want to do it during SONA day, there are areas where you can do so, but not here in Batasan Complex.”
 
Velasco said SONA outfits featuring illustrations that demean personalities were also prohibited.

”A SONA outfit with a face of a personality made into a caricature, that’s not allowed. Anything derogatory to a personality or persons of authority, bawal ‘yun (that’s prohibited). We will be polite in asking them to change clothes. Sasabihin na lang namin, Sir, Ma'am, baka gusto  nyo no po magpalit kasi hindi po kayo makakapasok ng plenary,” Velasco  said.

(We will politely ask them to change clothes if their outfit is non-compliant.)

“All of these preparations are for the SONA. You have to listen to the  President deliver the SONA. It is a formal event, so coat and tie, or barong, or an outfit paying homage to our culture,” Velasco added.

The House Secretary General said the plenary hall where the President would deliver his SONA will have 1,800 seats.

Another 300 seats will be available in the  Romualdez Hall viewing room for those guests who are senior citizens, with disabilities, and with medical conditions.

Food and drinks would be served at the Romualdez Hall, with a comfort room available.

SONA guests in the plenary would not be allowed to leave the venue from 3 p.m. until the President was done delivering his SONA.

Meanwhile, Act Teachers Partylist Representative France Castro of the Makabayan Bloc said they would continue to wear clothing that  expressed the issues and demands of the public during their attendance.

She added that the ban was a violation of their freedom of expression. — Jiselle Anne Casucian/DVM, GMA Integrated News