All Filipina

THERE is the over stocking of rice at the NFA, the misappropriation of calamity funds, the need for delicadeza and resignation of midnight appointees, buildings instead of trees by the La Mesa Dam, bonuses of officials that can pay the benefits of the members instead and the undying spread of disease we know as corruption and P-Noy goes through his laundry list inherited from the previous administration.

The first one hundred days of the new president, the state of the nation address and he says we can dream again.

Why not?

My dream is to see more and more Filipinas donning the elegant Terno and Baro't Saya and wear it with pride. If it were not for Imelda Marcos, the epitome of a stylish Filipina, who knows where the Terno has gone by now- probably not in the style bible of the young designers or perhaps the vintage pieces will stay in the bauls never seeing the light of day.

Ask and you shall receive. Before the forty-minute SONA of President Aquino, never has the halls of congress been more chic with men in regal in their Barong Tagalogs and women elegant in their Ternos. It was one beautiful butterfly field.

Imee Marcos' design twist on the butterfly sleeves was certainly a sight to behold. The mother, Imelda, was as queenly as ever while Mindanao's own Jinky Pacquiao was a stand out in her pale pink number.

In our beloved city, it is a blessing that the "Ball of the Year" is as strong as ever in attendance and accomplishments. At least once a year, the children of Davao parade in their most elegant Filipiniana garb and be part of an evening that will benefit the city and its citizen and achieve the best that it should be.

I may have missed this much-awaited and attended event but the photographs sent to me tell a million stories. This year's muse, Milen Aquino, and her escort, Robertino del Rosario, was a picture-perfect pair.

Basing only on the photographs I landed on my email, I could say that the night's stand out and my personal pick would be Pinky Pineda in her vintage Casimiro Abad pastel blue terno given to her by her mother-in-law. Classy all the way.

Certainly, there are many more elegant ladies in the ballroom but it was unfortunate that I missed the chance to catch them and immortalize the night via photographs. There will always be a next time, that much I can be sure. By then, you will be donning another one of your best ternos and say that you are proud to be Filipino.