May is the Heritage Month in the Philippines, and it is a time when the country celebrates its rich cultural heritage. One of the symbols of Philippine culture is the Barong Tagalog, a formal shirt worn by men during special occasions. Originally a traditional attire of the Tagalog people, the Barong Tagalog has evolved over time to become a symbol of Filipino identity as the national male dress of the Philippines.
The promotion of the Barong Tagalog began in 1975 with the proclamation of Barong Filipino Week under the auspices of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. The week-long celebration aimed to instill pride in the Filipino culture and to celebrate the unique qualities and traditions that make the Philippines a unique and special country.
Ginoong Pilipinas, the country's most prestigious personality pageant for men, has made the Barong Filipino its cultural advocacy. The pageant's special presentation of the Barong Filipino at Casa Gorordo Museum on May 12 will feature participating fashion designers' interpretations of the garment, mixing traditional local materials with fabric blends like poly cotton.
According to Ginoong Pilipinas executive producer Dexter Alazas, they require the candidates to collaborate with their designers to create a modern formal wear that mixes traditional local materials with contemporary fabrics. This is their way of elevating the Barong Tagalog into a Barong Filipino. Alazas is a proponent of the more inclusive Barong Filipino using Cebu's hablon weaving process centered in Argao, Cebu. This process creates unique and contemporary designs based on those of the traditional Barong.
The Barong Filipino has become a symbol of gender inclusivity and a celebration of diversity, with women also wearing the garment in a Ladies Fit version, and specific designs made for them. It is no longer just the Barong Tagalog seen by non-Tagalogs in old movies and national media, but a contemporary dress worn by security personnel and bank tellers (in the short-sleeved version), as well as celebrities, socialites, and high-level politicians of the land in long-sleeved piña.
As the country celebrates the Heritage Month, let us also celebrate the Barong Filipino and its evolution as a symbol of Philippine culture and identity. The promotion of the Barong Filipino by Ginoong Pilipinas is a testament to its importance in the country's cultural heritage, and we can all take part in its advocacy by wearing it proudly and promoting its beauty and elegance.
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