Interesting account of this garment's origins, Peter. I purchased two of them last time I was in the Phils ... in fact, on the very day we deposited Myrna's Spousal Visa documents with the British Embassy in Manila. Indeed ... I've even worn the dressier cream~coloured one - with its contrasting brown embroidered interweaving - while on Elders' door duty at our local church on [the few] summer Sundays when it has been too hot to wear a jacket and tie. And it cuts a real dash!
