MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – President-elect Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has announced several austerity and simplicity measures that will mark his administration, including flying back and forth to Davao City instead of living in the presidential palace in Manila, as well as scrapping the expensive and elaborate presidential inauguration.

Duterte’s latest announcement has angered the wives of senators and congressmen, as well as female legislators.

Each year, during the president’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), a Hollywood-type red carpet ceremony is held at the Batasang Pambansa, the congress building in Quezon City.  The ladies all look forward to this once-a-year spectacle to show off their expensive and designer (well, for some — home-made and  non-designer) gowns.

Duterte wants nothing of the red carpets when he delivers his SONA.  In fact, he said that he, himself, will come in his trademark red and black checkered, shortsleeved polo shirt.

“Change is coming,” the mayor said.

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – The suit and tie is to America. The Barong Tagalog is to the Philippines.

Since the time of the Spanish occupation of the Philippines, Filipino males have always donned the Barong Tagalog for formal and special occasions. Made of local transparent fabric, this official male Filipino attire has never failed to regale fashion experts and dignitaries like U.S. President Barack Obama who absolutely looks stunning in a barong.

But with the election of a new president, change is coming.

President-elect Rodrigo Duterte is known to be very uncomfortable in a barong.  Photo after photo of Duterte during the campaign period shows him in his favorite, red, white and black checkered polo shirt.

As he prepares to take office, the country’s clothing experts are predicting that in no time at all, the barong will go out of fashion.  In its place will be Duterte’s trademark checkered shirt.

So Filipino men, go get yours so that you won’t be left out of the “in crowd.”

Would the checkered shirt eventually replace the barong as the Philippines’ national dress for men?

Also, it’s time to retire the yellow t-shirt of the PNoy administration.