By JOSE PAOLO S. DELA CRUZ
Fresh from his triumphant showing at the recent State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambansa – for which he created more than 100 barongs and gowns – fashion designer Michael Leyva is now all set to wow people anew with his highly anticipated show at the historic Goldenberg Mansion in Malacañang.
What did Heart Evangelista, Sen. Nancy Binay, Biñan Rep. Len Alonte, Social Secretary Bianca Zobel, Emmeline Aglipay Villar and about a hundred other VIPs at the recent SONA have in common? Well, all of them had the privilege of wearing a Michael Leyva to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s annual address.
“Preparing for this year’s SONA has been really challenging for me and my team. We did about a hundred Filipinianas and barongs for personalities, politicians and their families,” says Michael, who has been designing gowns and barongs for the SONA since 2015. “I always design gowns according to the personality of my clients and I always challenge myself to make each piece different. I keep on doing research and study how we can make every piece unique, every year.”
Marrying sensibilities with sensitivities, Michael made sure that his ensembles for the SONA remained understated yet elegant. Extravagance, he says, took a backseat, since many are still recovering from the harrowing pandemic that hit the world in the past couple of years.
Among Michael’s most talked about dresses from the occasion was Heart’s white cut-out Filipiniana column dress with embellished pearls and crystals. “This is the most difficult gown for me to make for this SONA because we had to make each of the small square beaded pieces. It took us three months to finish it,” he explains.
Also a standout was Rep. Alonte’s white Filipiniana look, which featured French lace and white tassels.
While most of Michael’s SONA gowns were white, the designer also added a splash of color to the red carpet with Zobel’s draped emerald green jumpsuit, Rep. Dette Escudero’s sky blue silk gown and Pimentel’s blue and white ensemble, to name a few.
Road to Goldenberg
Michael, who has been dressing up no less than First Lady Liza Marcos herself, also shares to PeopleAsia that he will be staging “Isang Pilipinas,” at the Goldenberg Mansion in Malacañang on Aug. 08, 2023.
“This a showcase of Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao’s rich culture, heritage and history. We are preparing 60 pieces for my first ever collection that uses woven fabrics from different places here in the Philippines,” says Michael. While the designer’s talents and creativity will be in full display, he also reminds that the show stems from a collaborative effort and aims to showcase the talents of the country’s many weaving communities.
Michael’s “Isang Pilipinas,” fashion show is part of the First Lady’s Goldenberg Fashion Series, which kicked off this year in the newly rehabilitated and reopened mansion within the Malacañang compound.
