Paula Defensor-Knack to New Zealand Prime Minister: "Don't insult our national costume"

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern shows her Barong Tagalog, photo from Inquirer

"If our national costume is not good enough for you, YOU CAN ALWAYS AVOID THE DRESS CODE AND YOU CAN WEAR WOOL & LOOK LIKE sheep beside other heads of states in a barong. WEAR A COTTON CHEMISE or ask for jusi."

Paula Defensor Knack, who claims to be the sister of late Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, castigated New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern after the latter said on Tuesday that she was unimpressed by her "scratchy and starchy" Barong Tagalog.



In the gala dinner of the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit held in Manila on Sunday, the world leaders wore the national costume of the country.

“I’m not going to sniff the shirt on camera,” Ardern said when asked what the shirt smelled like.

Ardern criticized Duterte's war on drugs for the deaths it has allegedly produced.

Meanwhile Knack has expressed her rage towards the comment.

She said that the Premier who came from a country "full of sheep" should have avoided insulting the traditional attire.

"Dear Prime Minister of New Zealand : Thats because either 1. you have a skin allergy or sensitive skin; 2. You come from a country WHERE THERES MORE SHEEP THAN PEOPLE - fact," she said.



"I HAVE WORN different designs of THE BARONG in numerous diplomatic occasions in Europe and it is always a hit. In fact, they wanted me to sell what I was wearing to them because the embroidery is exquisite," she added.

She said that the leader should hire a stylist next time so she could be comfortable.

" But dont insult our national costume when you come from a country full of sheep !" she said.

The same day Ardern gave the comment, a memorandum of agreement was signed between Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and New Zealand Ambassador to the Philippines David Strachan in front of her to strengthen the geothermal energy cooperation between the Philippines and New Zealand.

Source/s: Manila Standard, Paula Defensor-Knack

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