MANILA, Philippines?A town mayor in G-string stole the show from the fashionistas who walked the red carpet in designer barong and terno Monday at the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Congress.

Nagtipunan Mayor Rosario Camma, ?overall chief? of the Bugkalot tribe in Central Luzon, came in a blue G-string, red headband and bare feet.

?This is our culture,? the chief from Quirino province said proudly. ?This is how we dress in our tribe.?

For his efforts in leading the Bugkalot develop irrigation, plant vegetables and corn, and achieve food self-sufficiency in their area, Camma was acknowledged by the President during her SONA.

?Mabuhay, chief!? Ms Arroyo said. Camma, who was in the gallery, stood up in all his finery.

For a few hours Monday, crisis-weary Filipinos tried to forget about the true state of the nation and watched on TV their favorite politicians with their significant others bask in their ?red carpet? moment.

In true show biz fashion, Ms Arroyo?s eighth SONA before a joint session of Congress at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City became a much-awaited annual fashion spectacle, complete with its share of victims and victors.

Leading the stellar lineup is the President herself in JC Buendia?s updated version of the Maria Clara made of piña and dyed in fuchsia using the sabang plant?s bark extract. Threads used for the embroidery were also dyed using coconut husk extract.

?La Herminia weavers from Aklan wove the fabric,? said Buendia, one of Ms Arroyo?s favorite designers, in a pre-SONA e-mail. ?An heirloom pink zircon brooch will hold the President?s pañuelo (bandanna wrapped around the shoulders) in place.?

Assunta, Dawn

Buendia also did Assunta de Rossi-Ledesma?s draped silk chiffon terno. For the afternoon event, the statuesque former actress and wife of Negros Occidental Rep. Jules Ledesma chose an unembellished teal number.

De Rossi-Ledesma drew attention to her neck and chest by wearing a Jewelmer necklace consisting of dangling white and yellow pearls?a wedding gift, she said, from husband Jules.

Wearing a gray terno, actress Dawn Zulueta, wife of Davao del Norte Rep. Anton Lagdameo, skipped the red carpet altogether and went directly to the congressmen?s offices as soon as she arrived.

Loren, Lani

Sen. Loren Legarda managed to generate her fair share of attention in Paul Cabral?s black backless, off-the-shoulder silk crepe number with a stylized hand-embroidered pañuelo by embroiderers from Lumban.

Legarda accessorized her look with a huge cameo pendant and a mother-of-pearl minaudiere (handbag) by Celestina, a high-end brand designed by former model Tina Maristela-Ocampo.

Next to Rajo Laurel, Cabral probably made the bigger number of gowns and barong in this year?s SONA. He also did the ternos of Deputy Speaker Amelita Villarosa, Rep. Lorna Silverio, Lani Mercado and Baby Arenas.

Mercado, wife of Sen. Ramon ?Bong? Revilla Jr., wore an empire-cut terno with pleated detailing. Arenas, mother of Rep. Rachel Arenas, opted for white Mikado silk terno with layers of French lace and silk organza from the hips down.

She almost forgot

Rodora Nograles, wife of House Speaker Prospero Nograles, almost forgot to have an outfit made for the SONA. She had a lime green chiffon terno accented with undulating organza ruffles on the skirt rushed for the occasion.

Since two of her favorite designers, Patis Tesoro and Laurel, were too busy attending to previous orders, she took her chance with Cabral. She seemed happy with the results.

?It slipped my mind since this is the first SONA where my husband is speaker,? said Nograles, who wore heirloom jewelry consisting of a pair of ruby earrings, a brooch and a ring.

Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar, wife of Senate President Manuel Villar, wore a semi-beaded and modernized kimona over a strapless lavender dress by Nolie Hans.

Borrowed earrings

Apart from Revilla, Cabral also did the barong of Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Francis ?Chiz? Escudero.

Escudero?s wife Christine, however, wore Frederick Peralta?s Castilian-inspired terno made of duchess satin and embellished with geometric details and an overlay of black point d?esprit. The designer also did the gray and silver jusi and piña terno of Mimi Zamora, wife of San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora.

No one could have worn a more stylized Maria Clara than Sen. Pia Cayetano, who donned a shirred, off-shoulder, Grecian-inspired olive dress by Mia Urquico. She spruced up the look with a floral-inspired multicolored necklace she bought from South Africa and borrowed a pair of dangling earrings.

?I?m not really into jewelry,? she said. ?I was in such a hurry that I forgot to bring a pair of earrings with me this morning. I had to borrow earrings from my chief of staff, Atty. DG Uy.?

Popular designer

Audrey Tan-Zubiri, wife of Sen. Miguel Zubiri, one of the most photographed women in last year?s SONA, again tapped Laurel to do her terno, a draped silk tulle number in deep turquoise with silver and crystal beading.

Tootsie Angara, wife of Aurora Rep. Sonny Angara and daughter-in-law of Sen. Edgardo Angara, was also a repeat customer who came in Laurel?s pale pink-and-white chiffon terno with a tiered skirt.

Laurel also did the SONA outfits of more than a dozen congressional wives, including Nettie Agabao, Candy Biron, Zona Teves and Jenny Barzaga. He also transformed a white-and-orange sari fabric into his three-piece version of the Maria Clara for Rep. Jocelyn Limkaichong of Negros Oriental.

Fashion statement

Angela Arroyo, wife of Pampanga Rep. Mikey Arroyo, held her own in Dennis Lustico?s Thai silk terno with orchid motif, beadwork and handpainting, while Jit Remulla, wife of Cavite Rep. Crispin Remulla, wore Jojie Lloren?s modernized silk Maria Clara, complete with baro, pañuelo and sobrefalda, and a slim pair of checkered pants.

Statements weren?t confined to the red carpet. Akbayan party-list Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel, wearing a fuchsia terno of silk and organza, held a press conference at the Batasan some three hours before the red carpet walk.

?Suki Yula, a single mother living with cancer, did my terno,? said Hontiveros-Baraquel, a former broadcaster. ?She used to work for Aureo Alonzo, and now works out of her home in Mandaluyong.? With a report from Sara Siguion-Reyna