Barong Tagalog, The Philippine National Costume by Miyu

Barong Tagalog is the formal men's wear of the Philippines. Last time, I focus on the Chinese long dress for women so this time I chose men’s costume. One of my Philippine friends told me that the Barong Tagalog has always been considered a staple. Almost every Filipino male has one in his closet, or at least has worn it once in his lifetime.

History:

The history of Barong Tagalog goes back to Spanish-colonial era (1565-1898). The Spanish rulers demanded the Filipino men to wear the Barong Tagalog because they wanted to make the differences between themselves and the 'natives' visible by the dress. Barong Tagalog’ s material should be transparent so that Philippines cannot hide any weapons against the Spanish rulers. Also pockets were prohibited. However, the Barong Tagalog gained its power, prestige, and status when President Quezon, the first Filipino president, declared it the National dress. The status of the lowly inferior Barong thus became another symbol of Filipinos' resistance to colonization. During his brief term, he made it fashionable as business and formal wear. Today, Barong Tagalog is worn in special occasions. The Filipinos (as well as non-Filipinos) continue to wear the Barong Tagalog with distinguishing acceptance world-wide.

Trivia:

Today, every visitor and foreign dignitary invited to a Palace must be dressed to a Barong Tagalog. The invitations specifically say come in "Barong" instead of the traditional "Coat and Tie". Thus, every one invited to dinner at the Presidential Palace and in many Filipino homes have to experience what it feels to have to wear his shirttails out, to suffer the indignity of having the material of his barong transparent so that he cannot conceal any weapon; and horrors, to be accused directly of incipient thievery by having no pockets in his barong to put the silver. So, when Spanish Ambassador is invited to a state dinner, you can say, "Ah, what sweet revenge!"

This is a photo of Hollywood actor Jeremy Renner and the President Benigno Aquino III in the palace.

Features:

Barong Tagalog’s material is transparent and we can see through it if you hold it against the light. Its color is traditionally creamy white and it is elaborated embroidery. This embroidery is an ancient craft that reached the Philippines even before the arrival of the Spaniards. (The needlework is one of Filipino traditions and Filipino girls in olden times, it is said, knew their worth by the way they pushed the needle!)

After I learned about Barong Tagalog’s history and features, I realized how strongly the world history and traditional costume are connected. The Barong Tagalog is beautiful but has a bitter past. It is important for us to know Philippine’s historical background to truly understand the Barong Tagalog’s real beauty and value.

http://www.barongtagalog.org/

http://www.philippines.hvu.nl/clothes2.htm

http://entertainment.inquirer.net/31141/%E2%80%98bourne%E2%80%99-star-leaves-%E2%80%98legacy%E2%80%99-in-palace-visit

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barong_Tagalog