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RP Cries Foul as APEC Tags Natl Costume as 'Peasant Shirt'


The Philippine government has called for clarifications after the organizing committee of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Sydney, Australia branded the Filipino's national costume for men as a mere "peasant shirt."

"It’s very important that the clarification be made. I’m not sure about the origin personally but at the moment it’s is practically the people in high society and government, this national costume is being used by heads of state," said Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye, himself a delegate to the summit.

An APEC media backgrounder said the "barong Tagalog" is a peasant shirt.

The Barong Tagalog, which was the official outfit of the leaders' summit in Manila in 1996, is the Philippines' national costume for male.

The APEC press release that was disseminated to international media was used as a backgrounder on the gathering's official outfits from 1993 to 2006.

Cecile Alvarez, executive director of the Philppines' National Commission for Culture and the Arts, meanwhile, said the press release might have cited an “undocumented” history which dates back in the Spanish colonial era.

Alvarez said the Spaniards allegedly made the “underprivileged” Filipinos wear the barong Tagalog to make sure that the locals were not carrying any weapons under the thin clothing.

She, however, said that such claims are undocumented.

Alvarez added that the barong Tagalog was worn by Filipino politicians during important occasions back in the days of former president Manuel Quezon.

For his part, popular fashion designer Rene Salud said that barong Tagalog is more than just a clothing because it is a cultural symbol.