2020
Moonyeka is chronically overdressed. They’re often “more lewd and glammed out” than most folks in Seattle. The last wedding Moonyeka attended they wore a solid magenta dress and another guest commented: “You look better than the bride!” “I felt bad” Moonyeka admitted, because they weren’t trying to steal the show. Moonyeka is incredibly proud of their Filipinx heritage and often feels a sense of duty whenever they come across traditional garment from the Philippines, such as the barong featured in this look, while out thrifting in person or online. One day, Moonyeka discovered this barong at the Goodwill Outlet (or ‘bins’) and obviously had to salvage it—bought by the pound, it probably cost a quarter, whereas new barong’s can cost $250 or more, depending on the quality of the material and degree of embroidery. They are reserved for special events and traditionally crafted from a lightweight yet stiff, sheer fabric known as nipis, which is created from pina (pineapple leaves) or abaca (banana leaves). The Barong Tagalog (for men) and Baro’t Saya (for women) both have roots in Spanish colonialism but originate from the Tagalog Baro, a loose unisex collarless shirt/jacket worn by the majority of indigenous and ethnic groups that inhabited the pre-colonial Philippines.
