'Wasteful,' 'Capitol of Panem': Reactions to Malacañang fashion show
Flood situation, economic crisis and other national concerns were brought up online amid the recent fashion show that was hosted at the Malacañang Palace. Michael Leyva, a fashion designer known for his Filipiniana gowns, showcased his 65-piece collection called “Isang Pilipinas” at the Malacañang Palace on August 9. The fashion show was attended by high-ranking government officials and other celebrities, and Michael listed all their names to express his gratitude to them in an Instagram post. Footage of the fashion show circulated on TikTok following the event and received cheers and applause for his designs. However, some Filipinos criticized the event for its lavish nature, citing the aftermath of recent typhoons and the high inflation rate as among the concurrent problems the Filipinos are facing.
Publicado : Hace 2 años por en Politics
Flood situation, economic crisis and other national concerns were brought up online amid the recent fashion show that was hosted at the Malacañang Palace.
Michael Leyva, a fashion designer known for his Filipiniana gowns, showcased his 65-piece collection called “Isang Pilipinas” at the Goldenberg Mansion on August 9.
The fashion show was attended by high-ranking government officials and other celebrities.
Michael listed all their names to express his gratitude to them in an Instagram post.
Some of the prominent names the designers mentioned as sponsors were:
Michael’s muses or those who were selected to model his creations on the runway, meanwhile, were:
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Michael also dedicated a separate Instagram post to thank First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos whom he said gave him the opportunity to showcase his works.
“Bilang isang manlilikha, labis kong ipinag-papasalamat ang mabigyan ng isang pagkakataon na maging tulay upang maipakita ang galing at talento ng mga Pilipino saan mang sulok ng mundo,” he wrote on the post.
The Goldenberg Mansion is one of the newly opened sites at the Malacañang Heritage Tours. It serves as a venue for special events and exhibits.
READ: ‘A glimpse of the Philippines’: DOT expresses support for new Malacañang heritage mansions
Footage of the fashion show circulated on TikTok following the event. The videos also reached Facebook and Twitter.
Michael received cheers and applause for his designs.
The hosting of the fashion show, however, drew public criticism. Most of the criticisms stemmed from show’s lavish nature.
Several Filipinos cited the aftermath of recent typhoons and the high inflation rate as among the concurrent problems the Filipinos are facing.
“A ‘let them eat cake’ moment while Bulacan is deep in flood waters, inflation is rising, and more people are getting hungrier and hungrier. The Philippines is indeed living in a dystopia,” a Filipino commented.
“I see that we’re back to an Imeldified Malacañang, extravagant, ostentatious, wasteful, insensitive,” historian Kristoffer Pasion said on the X app.
Some Filipinos also saw this incident as similar to the Capitol of Panem, a fictional place where the privileged elite lives in the fictional franchise “Hunger Games.”
“The luxurious and decadent lifestyles of the citizens of the Capitol of Panem. The rest of us? We go through the Hunger Games,” kidney doctor Carlo Trinidad posted.
Some individuals commented that the fashion show was still funded by taxes despite having private sponsors.
“All events held in Malacañang, even if they are fundraisers, cost taxpayer money. We pay for the electricity, the security, the staff who help organize them, the food during coordination meetings, and the list goes on,” former public servant Celso Santiago Jr. posted.
Progressive groups also criticized the Palace for the event. They deemed it too extravagant amid the economic crisis.
Temas: Fashion, Style