Sporting a new haircut and wearing a JC Buendia signature barong, President Aquino greets lawmakers as he enters the South Lounge of the Batasang Pambansa. (Photo by ALI VICOY)

And so yellow was the color of the day.

This was after different shades and monotones of yellow colored several Filipiniana costumes and Maria Clara ternos that glittered the red-carpetted floors in the Batasan Pambasna as fashionable congresswomen and wives of legislators attended the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.

The sisters of President Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III - Ballsy, Pinky, and Viel - all wore yellow traditional Filipiniana gowns, which was also worn by Pangasinan Rep. Manay Gina De Venecia.

Former first lady and now Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos proved that a fashion icon will always have impeccable sense of style when she wore a simple purple Abel Iloco terno accentuated with pink scarf.

Neophyte Cavite Rep. Lanie Mercado was radiant in her light pink Filipiniana terno, which has been reported to be a Paul Cabral creation while Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez wore a powder blue Randy Ortiz Filipiniana gown paired with elegant stud diamond earrings.

Former Akbayan party-list Rep. Risa Hontiveros looked like a Grecian goddess when she walked down the session hall, wearing a Grecian-inspired white tube Joel Acebuche long gown with black prints near the hem.

Jinkee Pacquiao, wife of Filipino boxing champion and Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao, was seen in a peach terno while Sen. Loren Legarda, who sported a chic shorter haircut wore a colorful balloon-type Malong matched with a Pinya-woven Maria Clara top.

Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon "Dinkie" Soliman wore a red Muslim-inspired two-piece custome but she was outshined by Sulu Rep. Nur "Lady" Ann Sahidula with her heavily adorned, opulent, and very colorful Muslim dress.

Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro Casino, who attended his first SONA after five years, had a barong especially made for the event as he had a slogan "Stop the Killings" emboidered in black and yellow down around the center.

President Aquino III sported a new haircut and wore a JC Buendia signature barong as he broke tradition and entered the House of Representatives through the South Lounge instead of the main lobby.

His speech, majority of which was delivered in Filipino, lasted for 36 minutes.