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The lowly “polo barong,” or shirtless in Marikina – I recently saw a photo of Mayor Jojo Binay and Jun Lozada seated together (Inquirer.net, June 04/09) and dressed in expensive-looking, immaculately (with apologies to Mama Mary) white “polo barong.” Needless to say, I was sufficiently impressed … with their fashion sense. In case you haven’t noticed it yet, we may just have finally succeeded in adopting what may be generally accepted as our national attire, without any conscious, deliberate nationwide movement or legislation. It’s called, what else, the “polo barong.” I’ve seen ordinary clerks, young, smart business executives, security personnel, lay ministers, government bureaucrats, and even some wealthy businessmen and high-profile politicians in the attire on a daily basis – and they all look good. What’s more, it’s uniquely Filipino.
The polo barong is your great social leveler. It’s practical (except for Baguio/Tagaytay weather), simple and unpretentious, inexpensive (unless it’s made of pure silk, linen, or pinya , with gold buttons), and does not smack of colonial mentality. The only trouble is it doesn’t come with pockets, it crumples easily and wilts at the end of the day. You cannot be seen wearing the same shirt again the next day. At the end of a rough day, the person wearing it excuses his appearance as “the crumpled look” or “gusot mayaman,” i.e., he likes, he planned it that way.
Another justified criticism is that the polo barong looks too plain, too simple and soils easily. It’s a far cry from the exotically colorful, popular “Hawaiian” polo shirt. But what’s wrong with “plain and simple.” Look at the simple, Scandinavian-style furniture which made “Ikea’s” world-famous.
I’m not rightly sure how it developed that lawyers may now show up in courtroom hearings wearing long-sleeved “barong Tagalog,” in lieu of the so-called “coat and tie.” Regrettably, though, the polo barong is still unacceptable here.
In the first place, most Filipinos have no notion of what should pass for “formal/business attire.” I have attended quite a few weddings where the invitation insists on “Strictly Formal Attire” only to find the guests showing up in all manner and stages of atrocious if indecent fashion concepts. Most Filipino men still think that any kind or color of coat (or “Americana”) will pass for “formal attire.” Let’s not even talk about their choice of dress shirt and tie, good heavens.
It should also be noted that most of our great tailors in the past who must have learned their craft from the early Chinese and Americans, eventually settled in Baguio City where it was reasonable and practical for lawyers (and some wealthy fashion plates) to be garbed like their American colonizers. Naturally, these tailors eventually vanished one by one without their children caring to continue in their father’s trade. I still miss the old“Limpin’s” or “Lambino’s” signboards which used to be prominently displayed along Session Road, Baguio’s version of the Brooks Brothers – Haberdashers.
I believe our unique history, culture and climate should allow us to fashion our own uniquely Filipino manner of dressing, up or down. For instance, the black “toga” which the colonially-minded old Romans, the British, and the Americans adopted from the Hellenistic age, should be declared completely irrelevant, incongruous and out of place in Philippine setting. While I’m not advocating that we show up in public wearing our version of our ancestors’ “bahag,” I believe we are fortunate the polo barong eventually evolved into what it looks now. In other words, mukhang nakatsamba tayo dito and we should be grateful accordingly.
Speaking of colonial mentality, did you know, for instance, that the popular American President Teddy Roosevelt (1858-1919) in his time would insist on wearing nothing but exquisitely-tailored suits made in England from 100% British virgin wool? During the American regime, our own Filipino intelligencia were nattily clad in what may charitably be described as monkey-suits fashioned for the diminutive “indios.” Monkey see, monkey do.
President Marcos in his time tried to popularize what became known as the “shirt-jak.” Now, the only ones who will be caught dead in it are the bus drivers and conductors of the Victory Liner. For a while, too, it became rather fashionable for some of our Makati executives to show up in all sorts of bush jackets or military-looking suits. Thank goodness those too seem to have vanished with the Marcos era. President Ramos must have thought he looked rather cool wearing rolled up long-sleeved barongs at cabinet meetings.
Where you will still find vestiges of colonial mentality would be the dress code required in local golf courses and badminton tournaments. Collarless sport shirts are still disallowed, as are jeans, for goodness’ sake, a rule that must have been imposed by our American colonizers. Any other indecent attire is of course acceptable. To begin with, those silly games are your best evidences of colonial mentality. We can’t even manufacture nor have the basic technology to produce our own golf or badminton equipment. Why can’t we settle for “sipa?”
There’s an old Spanish saying “el habito no hace monje” – or, loosely, clothes do not make the man. On the other hand, others will insist that you are what you wear. In this regard, Vatican II seems to have created a distinct divide among our own local clergy and the religious. Some now dress (and act) like your average sinner, while other more conservative groups still insist on dressing like and getting the treatment accorded kings and princesses in the Middle (or Dark) Ages.
Mark Twain who never finished college was so proud of his having been conferred a Doctorate in Literature (honoris causa) he continued to walk around thereafter in full doctorate regalia insisting: “Clothes do make the man. Naked people have little or no influence in society.” There must be a middle ground here somewhere.
Me, I’d rather make my statement in writing, not in my habiliments. After all, I was taught early on not to judge a book by its cover.
Bayani Fernando (or BF), the best and greatest local executive I have ever seen in my lifetime, as usual seems to have gotten it right. “Magbihis ng ANGKOP.” One of the many signages he ordered to be installed all over Marikina. You could get arrested for walking around shirtless in Marikina. You will be refused entry at the local City Hall if you show up in shorts and slippers. Of course, the good Mayor should be gently reminded that there is a world of a difference between the “Bermuda” or walking shorts (Docker’s khakis or chinoys, worn by Australian police in the summer) and some basketball or cycling shorts which are downright indecent. But then again, the basic principle at law seems to be: “de minimis non curat lex.” The law (and the Mayor) cannot be bothered with details.
The operative word is “angkop.” It means “appropriate,” “proper,” “suitable.” If you need to ask what that is, you had better see the Mayor. I doubt that it means your “Sunday best” though. To be sure, it should be relevant, something we can all identify with, having some local color, albeit plain. Come to think of it, maybe the lowly, white polo barong best describes the average Juan de la Cruz – simple, plain, unspectacular… with a heart as pure as the driven snow.- Bro. James D. Lansang, Marikina City.
romesaluyot wrote on Jun 4, '09
The Polo Barong has come a long way. I bought one from San Antonio, Texas recently from a Filipino Church, with the Nipa Hut embroidered in front that cost a hundred. I thought it should be "angkop" for a wedding come October. I also notice that the Latino community wear something similar in their social gatherings which always reminds me of home. We must really be of the same roots, fashionwise. The Barong is really a way of making a Filipino statement without saying a word.
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Tnx, SAM, for you kind remarks. I suggest you also try looking up PDI's websitehttp://www.Inquirer.net and search for that Binay/Lozada foto I was referring to. They really looked good in their polo barongs. tnx agn. ciao
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jeemsdee said
There’s an old Spanish saying “el habito no hace monje” – or, loosely, clothes do not make the man. On the other hand, others will insist that you are what you wear.
Lately, a line has been popping up my head. It sounds Spanish but, honestly, I’m not sure. It says, “El video, por dios por santo, escandaloso”. Does this line mean we are what we don’t wear, too. . . . . . in video?
How do we reconcile it with the statement you attributed to Mark Twain “. . .Naked people have little or no influence in society.” Nagkagulo nga, eh. . . hasta el senado. |
dvovirtualtech wrote on Dec 19, '10
nice read... anyway just your opinion... if you're a guest in a wedding, a gusot-mayaman will do fine so as long as you're not part of the entourage right? i mean... i know gusot-mayaman should be for office (not the polyester uniform ones) and jusi/pina for formal wear... but if you're just a plain guest... should you really wear a jusi/pina barong..? i think it's a bit impractical and it can be a bit itchy compared to a gusot-mayaman what do you think?
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Agree with your thoughts. Glad I found your blog. Polo shirts in the Philippines are really great.
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