halfwhiteboy

Buwan ng Wika (Language Month) celebrations are one of my favorite occasions to dress up. While most celebrations are confined to schools, I’m glad that our department has made it an annual tradition at the office. Two years ago, I wore a batik blazer for a Mindanao-inspired look but for the most part since 2017, I’ve been wearing a Barong Tagalog —the same Barong actually—just styled in a different way each time. This year, it’s a Barong once again, albeit a new one.

"Kayo baga'y may kapeng barako dine?" Every August since 2015, our department has been celebrating Buwan ng Wika (Philippine Language Month) at the office where, just like school kids and teachers, we get to be in  Filipiniana attire  or traditional Filipino costumes. We also have a mini-program with some games and of best of all, heavy snacks featuring different Filipino delicacies. It's been my second favorite occasion at the office next to Halloween . The pandemic, of course, disrupted everything but after a two-year hiatus, our annual celebration made a happy comeback yesterday.

Wearing a Barong Tagalog--with rolled-up sleeves. Regarded as the country's national formal wear for men, the Barong Tagalog sure is a thing of beauty. Whether they're cheapies from Divisoria that cost only a few hundred pesos or expensive designer pieces, you can't discount the Barong's innate elegance. I got to wear one again last Friday when our department celebrated the culmination of Buwan ng Wika (Language Month). While it's a celebration often confined to schools, we've been at it for three years now. It's something I actually look forward to each year.

Looking oh, so dignified here. Although the celebrations are normally concentrated in elementary schools, August is Buwan ng Wika (Language Month) in the Philippines. Along with dressing up in various traditional Filipino costumes, schools usually hold programs and contests showcasing the national language and traditional Filipino songs and dances. Our department decided to join in the fun by designating a special day yesterday where everyone was required to wear a traditional Filipino costume reinterpreted for modern times. Two years ago when we first held this event, I found myself wearing an ethnic-designed shirt with a malong . This year I decided on a Barong Tagalog , considered our national formal wear for men. But no one wants to go all formal on a Friday, so I wore my Barong Tagalog with sneakers . I thought, if a full-on suit works just fine with sneakers, a barong would be just as perfect with this type of footwear.