As part of our discussion on women and media in Philippine Political Dynamics, here is a short excerpt from Mina Roces journal article regarding the politics of dress. It incorporates the dynamic role of gender as portrayed by the way people dress. And the essence of dress as a way of conveying power. A concept that I coined as political raiment in one of my researches when I was taking my master's degree at the UST graduate school.
Students of Philippine Political Dynamics are to access the article featured at the International Institute for Asian Studies. The link has been provided below. Read the short PDF. And
give substantial analysis on the importance of dress in defining gender roles and political roles in Philippine politics. Also you may
provide sensible comment regarding Imelda's portrayal in the article, on how she tried to use political dress to her advantage (and failed).
If you were to engage in politics, is there any tactical use of dress? How?
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Article Source:
Roces, M. (2008, Winter). Gender, nation and the politics of dress in 20th century Philippines. Retrieved June 2011, from International Institute for Asian Studies: http://old.iias.asia/files/IIAS_NL46_0405.pdf
ARTHUR ZIALCITA 3SCL
ReplyDeleteThe article gave me clarity on why politicians dress the way they dress. The history of the politics of dress was long and full of conflict and issues. Although i do believe that what you wear says a lot of who you are when in public. After all in politics image is everything. I believe that Imelda Marcos attempt to use political dress to her advantage was not such a bad idea. But as mentioned in the article you cannot expect that other people will understand why you dress that way. The message in your mind maybe clear but what others will think may differ from it. So i would have to say that her idea was acceptable but just not planned well enough.
If i were to engage in politics then yes there is a tactical use for dress. Like what i said before what you wear represents who you are.image is everything in the world today. people will judge you with their first look at you so might as well let them see what they want to see. The dress can be used to please peoples eyes.
VHENEA UMALI 3SCL
ReplyDeleteThe Marcos Family truly made their image standout in politics here in the Philippines. Along with Pres. Marcos, First Lady Imelda Marcos became really popular with the way she dresses and present herself in public. Political dress speaks for a person's identity. It also represents the things happening around in a certain period of time. Overall, DRESS stand to make and build a person's image and personality. Political dress truly bears the politician's statement.
Krizia Catapang 3SCL
ReplyDeleteThe iconography of the two powerful women (Imelda Marcos and Corazon Aquino) signifies that there is a political tension between the two specifically the way they dress and represent themselves among the public. The housewife in yellow dress (Aquino) represents that she is with the Filipino people who wanted democracy in their country. While the beautiful Imelda Marcos who dresses elegantly shows the elite side of the Filipino nation. In this way, we could see how politicians dress the way they do which totally affect the perceptions of the public. They represent how they wanted to be seen that would signify their identity.
Mariz Arabit 3SCL
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the article, I came to this thinking on why prominent people, socialites, and TV personalities have their own sets of Image stylists and Wardrobe Managers. How a person dresses reflects so much of oneself, and with that. one will be judged and treated on as to how your clothes hint. She was defined with Power, Beauty, and Wealth.
ROBERTA BEIGE NUBLA 3SCL
ReplyDeleteAs the saying goes, "you are what you wear". The attire that we wear represents what kind of person we and what characteristics we possess even if we do not actually intend to do so. Imelda Marcos did wear the terno to represent the Filipinos as if saying that she is pro-Filipino because seing someone wearing a western or a non-filipino attire creates this sense of enstrangement and by wearing the terno it makes people feel that they are not governed by a leader who has this 'foreign' vibes. The idea of wearing national attire was quite good yet the intended meaning for doing so was not expressed to the people or, at least, the people have not even thought about its symbolic representation.
If ever that engaging in politics has crossed my mind, I would also consider the way I would dress because in situations such as this first impression is really important and there might not be a second one. The way we dress is also contributing factor on how people will perceive us. So, if running for candidacy we should think if we will dress to represent our nationalistic sentiment just like Imelda Marcos or if it would be efficient and professional just like GMA. It is up to us what we will stand for in the field of politics and how we will represent it by, first, on how we dress up.
JENILLYN SEVADERA 3SCL
ReplyDeleteThroughout Marco's childhood, the Philippines had been a colony. Her wife (Imelda Marcos) which is the most powerful women in the Philippines in the 1970s popularized the "TERNO" and was seldom seen in any other attire in public. This was part of the First Family's agenda of fashioning themselves as the legendary characters of Philippine folklore and as nationalist subjects.
So, if I were to engage in politics, there would be tactical use of dress. We now know that our way of dressing affects our life and people around us. The way we dress affects this value, which affects how people around us perceive us as a person. Our dress can be an expression or manifestation of our personality. The look is important to give first impression.
PAULO SISON 3SCL
ReplyDeleteThe way people dress is influenced by several factors which can be narrowed down into being traditional or being modern. People could either dress themselves to conform to what is accepted in society or dress to express their individuality. This is perhaps the reason why there is politics of dress. The dress you wear will often be attributed with several meanings to different people's perspectives.
If I were to engage in politics, I will dress in accordance to what a politician is supposed to wear because it carries the essence of being a professional. People would usually respect those who dress professionally and take them more seriously than not.
KRISTEL MAY CASIMIRO 3SCL
ReplyDeleteThe article was very helpful and at the same time inspiring. There's more to know about the identity of us, Filipinos. Before, Everytime I see government officials on Televisions wearing this expensive and elegant dress, I just said "BONGGA" and laugh. without me knowing that these styles are products of the past. Now, I came to realize that they also help the Filipinos to spread and show our own national identity which is the FILIPINO identity. The article is inspiring because it lets us know what we don't know and what we should know as being part of the Filipino community. Those political dress are symbols of culture, patriotism and nationalism. It gives the officials the aura of being smart, professional and outstanding. I must say that, the statement shirts being created nowadays are somehow part of these scenario. These statement shirts speak just like the political dress being used by the officials. Sometimes, people are heard not only through their voices, but also with the dress they wear. But, I hope in the future more Filipinos would be able to produce these kinds of elegant and quality political dress. This is another thing that we would be proud of.
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ReplyDeleteEasterline Ancheta 3SCL
ReplyDeleteThe dress we wear is a very powerful symbol in our society, specifically Philippine society because it symbolizes power and position that you have in the society.By the time of the American colonial period Filipino men wanted to wear western type of dress because it signifies there political power and modernity. American style clothes also is interpreted that these Filipino men are not one of the colonized but rather claiming themselves to be powerful. But on the other hand, women who wore the terno and panuelo symbolizes the disenfranchised and dis-empowered non-citizen and colonized subject.By the time of Magsaysay who used dress as his political strategy and won over the hearts of the mass by making himself and everything he do simple and by showing the mob his down to earth side by wearing the Barong Tagalog which was something new since the past president was more of the western style of dress.He was the first president to wear the Barong Tagalog. He identified himself as one of the Filipino people. It is also a propaganda to the Filipino by means of encouraging them to be proud of there national identity and to love there culture and heritage. Magsaysay represented the common people and not the elites that is why he was loved by the Filipino during his regime. During the time of Marcos where by means at looking at the dress they wore you can identify and conclude their sense of nationality. Politicians are representatives of our country and thus one way of representing our country is by means of wearing dress that would denote the culture of our nation. Wearing the Barong Tagalong and Terno can give us a distinction from other nations that we are Filipinos. Like for instance the incident that happened during the fall of the Marcos regime, Imelda Marcos was compelled to face trial in New York city and without means violence or scandals that would put our country's name in a negative image she used one powerful tool to send a message to the Americans and that is by means of wearing a Terno which is a strong representation of being a Filipino. This incident gave us a sense of identity and it made us proud of our heritage and culture because even in the midst of chaos she never put our country in great shame though she was accused of many things but still she stand firm and strong wearing the Terno and giving it justice,which is somehow a symbol of our culture and as she stated it was like a flag of our country that she was wearing because it showed to the American society what Filipinas are capable of and by wearing it she embodied the Philippine nation victimized by the west. And by wearing the Terno she made the American realized that even if we are colonized subjects we have already achieve our own independence and it is improper, unjust and unethical to interfere on the issues of the Philippines.
The strong influence of the west in terms of dress has also been a political strategy and symbol that affects and influences the Philippine society. Like for example Cory Aquino's case she used the trademark "yellow" upon joining the People Power I that aims to omit the dictatorship of Marcos. She used it as a trend and a propaganda to encourage the people to go join the revolution and end the Marco's regime.
ReplyDeleteGloria Macapagal Arroyo by means of looking at the way she dress we can say that she aims for power and glory. And she is a president who focuses on the development of the country. And by taking her oath wearing the western style she detaches herself to the Filipino masses and inlined herself with the strong and powerful people in the west for she believes that by being professional and being educated in ruling the business world can lead the country towards economic development.
These article made me realize how powerful a dress can control and rule a nation. It is a strong representation our sense of identity, it gives us a feeling of satisfaction of how unique and nationalistic our culture is. A dress speaks a thousand words and can be interpreted in different meanings. I am so amazed how dress can change and influence a nation. I have to admit that I really admire how Imleda Marcos wears the Terno in representing the country she is indeed a representation of a true Filipina beauty and not of the west. I also admire how Cory's yellow trend changed the life of a nation and restore democracy which made the other nation admire of her bravery and serves as an inspiration to other nations to revolt against oppression and dictatorship. At some point, I admire how strategic and intelligent Gloria Arroyo is when comes to politics and economic development. She portrayed to the Filipino mass by means of wearing the western style that she is powerful and she is the leader of the nation with strong influence of the west. It may sound funny how a dress can influence the minds of the people and touch there hearts but then they started to realize that this is a significant tool when it comes to politics it signifies and sends meaning in many ways to the people.
ReplyDeletePaolo Donado
ReplyDelete1POL3
I think, for me, the way you dress does not affect your political influence or your performance in as politician like Imelda Marcos and Cory Aquino. Political dresses may symbolize your identity or how the way your express yourself but not your intentions or plans, politically. But to clarify, based on my assumption that, we SHOULD use our native formal dress which is the Baro at Saya for ladies, and the Barong Tagalog for gentlemen. We are in our own country, and we should express our love for the country, not only in the means of doing something for our country, but also in adopting what we have.
Aracan, Katherine
ReplyDelete3-Scl
The excerpt from Mina Roces journal gave me the panorama of how the political raiment in 20th century transform or should i say construct our nationhood. The hail for the Marcos regime and its use of tradition somehow aggravate our longed cry for a national identity. the first lady Imelda Marcos as a bearer of national tradition,wears terno as a symbol of nationalist subject tapped to this notion to achieve her political agenda, however associating terno with her personality, the terno became a symbol of herself,rather than a metaphor for our nation. She's an image associated with extravagant, fame, shoes, beauty, and to the extent of being the etymology
of the terminology IMELDIFIC define as ostentatiously extravagant, sometimes to the point of vulgarity. Obviously, thats the reason she failed.
as for me if politics ever occur in my mind, having a political dress tactics is the least of my concern on my agenda because you know what's wrong with people they tend to brand names by affiliation or by the image they were imposing so to say i must first manifest my actions to help the political field for the better rather than a pseudo manifestation of what i can really offer.
Leonard Sarmiento 3SCL
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the politics of dress can show a person's intent. In the case of Ramon Magsaysay, he decided to wear the Barong Tagalog to show that he is a "man of the masses". Many people wear our own native dress to show their love for our country. The use of our native dress may also imply the people's stand and support when suppressed during the colonial times.
Mei Xian Yang 3SCL
ReplyDeleteWhen national leaders have an international conference or meeting, they sometimes wear the traditional dress of the host country during the time of picture-taking. Politicians utilize dress as a tool to express their personality. Dress has become a “visual language” in society. But the interpretations of this “language” may totally opposite between the one who wear it and the public, as pointed with Imelda in the article.
For my opinion, the terno which popularized by Imelda Marcos is only suitable for a woman who do not need to go to the field, cook food for the family and take care of the children. In one word, the terno is for the elite, not the ordinary. Thus, whatever the politicians wear, they will only be accepted when they speak to the people and for the people. People do not want a model; they need a leader who is among them, not above.
MOSQUITO BEA JANE 3scl
ReplyDeleteThe article simply tells us that the way we dress can really determine how we want the people to look at us. The same way how our politicians dress. Even before, the politicians give much attention on how they look because looks can attract people. Just like what Imelda did she always see’s to it that she looks presentable so that people will admire her more. If I’m engaged to politics I wont focus on the way I look because what is important is that we give more attention to the needs of the people. It is not wrong if politicians give importance on the way they look because it is also not nice to see that our politicians are not presentable specially when they are in public, because how they dress shows also their personalities. We give ourselves an identity specially on how we dress ourselves.
LORENZ SIA 3SCL
ReplyDeletein this article show us the importance of dressing up properly, for me the way you dress affects your personality and your own life because what you wear is who you are. and mostly people will respect you in what you wear because it is the outside look you can determine whether this person is educated or not. so in politics it should have a attire for them not only what they want to wear, because attire can impress a people around you and they can determine who you are or what character you are. and it is the first expression of each people that looking at you as i said they can judge you by your cover. just like cory aquino she wears color yellow dresses in her candidates in the congress and every where that she goes and the color yellow became her identity and the trademark of aquino's family.
if i were engaged to the politics i will dress properly of course i want to impress people how i look or how i dress properly. because you will be judge by your own cover and it will became your first impression of the people and when the people don't like it it is hard to remove that impression that you gained from them. so for me dressing up properly is very important in the congress.
Francis Lyn Samaco - 3scl
ReplyDeleteDress, as a fitting symbol for a political and social role, acquires specific meaning behind it - either through its context or the persona behind it. Incorporated with the Philosophy of Recall and Symbol approach to power representation, dresses worn by prominent people acquire recognition and specificity. In like case of Imelda's attempt of using these set of patterns for their political strategy.She planned on portraying someone who's attached and devoted to the nation's well being through her butterfly dress as a trademark. Also her political implication of Filipina or Females beauty and significance Though it was considered as a failure due to Imelda's over powering personality, issues and actions. The theme was then personalized and it became a implication towards the symbol.
If I were to run, I would certainly use it. For it appears, it was significantly an effective medium of advocating what's behind a person's political and also personal stand point. Though it would be much that I'll try to consider to redefine the entity of the particular dress I would choose as something of my own description for an attack of stereotyping these symbols - in short, I'll make my own symbol for the people to know ;)
Sofie Molyn Ang-3SCL
ReplyDeleteEven in the midst of chaos during the colonization of the Philippines, and the Martial law, Filipinos to still see the beauty behind the hardships, this is thus expressed in the Filipino dress, Terno and the Barong Tagalog. True enough, these attires were a symbol of the Filipino's enslave by their colonizers. It expresses a type of humility, that indicates that they are not included in that of the elite class. As the years progressed, we see a shift in the preferences of attires from the humble Barong Tagalgog to the Americana. Filipinos preferred to be seen wearing a Western look because they want to project an image that which is of equal to that of the Westerners. This, I personally believe, is a struggle for acceptance and a struggle for equality that was not necessary. The women wear the terno still as a being lower than that of the social status of men at that time. It took one selfless and nationalistic president to bring the Barong Tagalog back and see the beauty of the attire as it is. This continued to the Marcos regime but was opposed by the many because of the hatred they have for the Marcoses, in which I think is very unnecessary. The Barong Tagalog exist long before the time of Marcos and thus must not be rejected just because the dictator wore it. It was a bad choice in the part of the Filipinos, for while they did that to show their unity and hatred for the administration, they projected a sense of shallowness as well. With that being said, for that very reason, I also believe that the Terno is a symbol of the Filipinas and it was not and never will be a sign of Imelda Marcos. Although people have the impression that Filipinas are timid and shy, they are in fact strong willed and intelligent, one who does not need to wear dangles and bangles to show the world they are sophisticated people. GMA wore a Western attire and that alone shows her lack of nationalism. She struggles and tries too hard to be seen as a woman with class when in fact she is not. One may be educated in the best universities in the world but who you are and what you do defines who you are. I may be bias because I am a Filipino, but I must say that i would rather wear a terno and wear it proud than be someone I'm not.
EMEMANDU UCHE DOMINIC 3SCL
ReplyDeleteActually, the way people dress speak about the. your dress actually gives people the first impression about u like back in the days when the Filipino barong Tagalog was considered as a dress for poor and the western attire where considered as cloth for the rich.
these basically describe why Imelda Marcos use the butterfly dress. so these actually discribe her as a prominent person.
Judy Ann Caballejo 3SCL
ReplyDeleteThe article made me realize how important dressing up is, especially when it comes to politics. Politicians like Imelda Marcos gives big effort on the way they dress and sometimes even hires professionals for their political wear. Political dress is important because the way you dress is how people will see and perceive you.
Dressing in a certain way shows off your symbol and personality to the public. It is in dressing properly that people respect you and know your status. With politicians, dressing has also been a way to have an icon in the public, like how Corazon Aquino wears yellow. When she wears yellow or anyone for that matter, people automatically know that it represents her. This is an example of how political dress affects the public.
In my opinion, dressing in a certain way for politicians is a great benefit for them and make them known to the public as iconic, wealthy and powerful. Also, it is a symbol representing their personality.
In my own point of view, the article emphasizes that the dressing has a tremendous impact in the political arena. The different "clothes" that are being used by both men and women inside the system determines their personality as a whole, meaning, the manner of how an individual dresses reflects his / her own self. In the Filipino culture, Literally, dressing serves as a protection to both abstract and concrete penetration from the external environment, but figuratively, dressing encompasses the person's totality. Thus, I assert that It is appropriate for people not only in the Politics, but also to other areas to dress with accordance to their own choice.
ReplyDeleteJenica Exconde 3-SCL
ReplyDeleteI think Filipinos wear the national dress as a sign of being proud to our race or nationality. In the time of Marcos, he and his wife wear the national dress for political matters. Because it gains trust and respect for them as a leader. When we see a person wearing the national dress, it shows nationalism to our country.
Who would have thought that clothes can represent strong images from the people? Based on the article, what Imelda Marcos was wearing when she was in new York announced to the whole world that Filipinas are strong just like our male politicians. The article can be considered a feminist as well and it also comes to the point that, what you wear defines who you are. This is why the saying "dress to kill" is very important to other people.
ReplyDeleteAlister Salazar 3SCL
ReplyDeleteThe dress that we wear represents the kind of person we are and what attitudes we possess. for example, if a person is a rocker (Rakista), the person will dress like a rocker. It is a way of showing yourself and personality to the public. Imelda Marcos dress according to her personality.
if i were to run in politics, i will use barong tagalog as a sign to support our very own dress. Because nowadays, western culture influenced our way of dressing, not just that, but in our culture. And if i were to pass a bill, i will pass a bill that would lift our dignity and regain our own "indentity" by wearing our very own traditional dress.
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ReplyDeleteJoseph John M. Villanueva 3-Sociology
ReplyDeleteWe can speak in how we dress up, we can look like poor, we can look like, rich, we can look like jejemon, we can look like educated person, we can look like non-educated.
If i will run in politics i will wear dark suit, white shirt, and tie. so that i will look taller, educated, rich, kind,organize and a powerful person. it is important for me to look rich so that people will not think of me running in politics for money only, and the most important is to look powerful, so that people will not try to think that i am helpless.
Miguel Fernando C. Clarin 3-sociology
ReplyDeletewe can represent ourselves by just showing what kind clothes we wear. for me we are respected if we dress up properly and neatly, and thats why polticians like the Marcos' dress that way because they want to show that they have the power and that they are highly respected.
so if i were to engage in politics, i will wear a suit or a barong tagalog so that people will recognize me as a powerful person, one that can be a leader for them,and the one that can help them in times of poverty.
FRANCES HERA DELA CRUZ 3SCL
ReplyDeleteThe society has imposed on a dramatically heavy perception towards and behind dresses. These dresses, expressed as Filipino or Western, carry with it an identity - personal, national and specifically political (as emphasized in the article). Historically, prominent personalities in the field of politics, used certain kind of dress in order to project social status or power, or maybe both.
In the case of our ex-First Lady Imelda Marcos, she used her dress to express her identity as Filipina but is then misunderstood. The bottomline is, dress is a unique form of communication, inevitable for having misinterpretations and misunderstanding.
Personally speaking, our everyday lives of wearing clothes/dress is a simple-but-complicated ritual that equates to an obvious manifestation of ideals such as respect, status and power.
God Bless, Philippines! Ù©(-̃_-̃)Û¶
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ReplyDeleteKatrina Carangan 3SCL
ReplyDeleteIn this article, the combination of politics and fashion is a natural one. Dressing yourself makes you stand and build your own personal image and personality. Political dresses truly bears the politician's statement. Because in any politicians the most significant thing is how they represent their country and the value of their affection through our society and also to their own fellowmen.
Mapaye, Rose Marianne C. 3SCL
ReplyDeleteIn my own opinion if you want to gain respect in the eyes of the people, you tend to dress properly. It sometimes signifies social status on what you wear. And when Imelda Marcos wore that Filipina dress, she only portrays how proud she was being a filipina and not knowing others will misinterpret it.
TAGALA, Pollyana Gabbigaile V. 3SCL
ReplyDeleteThe article talked about the power of "power dressing." Simple as it may seem, what the well known people wears has an impact in our society up to today. Also they way a person dress somehow represents where she came from - You are what you wear.
Dana Franchesca Tioyao 3SCL
ReplyDeleteI think the combination of politics and fashion is a natural one. Politicians are more concerned about the messages they convey, the way in which they're coming across to their constituency and the way in which they're perceived, than any other group of people I can think of, except perhaps, for entertainers.
If I were to engage in politics, I will dress decently and properly to show solidarity and respect.
COLLINE DELA ROSA 3SCL
ReplyDeleteThe article basically tackled about the power of fashion. i mean, particularly the dess. YOU ARE WHAT YOU WEAR! respect is what we need to earn not to impose or demand. if you want other people to respect you, start with how you present yourself to people. to do that, dress the proper way. having to read this article made me realize things about the power of dressing. how it affects who you are and what people think about you.
MARCO BUGAYONG 3SCL
ReplyDeleteThis article explain the importance of politics and fashion, how it is related. In politics we need to gain power and one way to achieve that is by wearing something appropriate that should impose power. With proper knowledge in fashion we are able to dress ourselves in the right manner, and the political dress that are worn portrays a respectable image.
Georjohn M. Olarte 3SCL
ReplyDeleteIn my own opinion, dressing in politics is very important part of a person's character because it reflects their personality and background as a political leader. political dressing is one way you express your feelings and wearing it is another way to look respectable to others.