The Barong Pilipino is the official national dress of the Philippines. It is a symbol of Philippine heritage and nationalism. Once again, world-class Filipino fashion icon Francis Libiran has designed a Barong that he named “Araw.” Showing liberty, peace, and valor, our great Filipino athletes are set to wear the Araw Barong Pilipino for the official opening ceremonies of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games to be held in Phnom Penh in Cambodia.
The Francis Libiran “Araw” is made out of Philippine jusi fabric with embroidery using fine threads and materials. Featuring the art of the Philippine flag, there are hues of blue that overlap a small bed of red. The focal point of the entire Barong Tagalog is the intricately embroidered sun or araw and its rays stretching over the sash and collar.
In 2019, Francis Libiran was appointed by the Philippine Sports Commission to design the official parade uniforms for more than 2,000 athletes and officials at the 30th SEA Games held in the Philippines. He created the iconic “Flag” barong for the event, which received critical acclaim.
In 2022, Francis Libiran was also commissioned to be the official designer for the parade uniforms of Team Philippines at the 31st SEA Games held in Hanoi, Vietnam. He created the “Agila” barong which featured intricate art deco embroidery of the Philippine eagle.
