DIRECTOR Quentin Tarantino must like the barong given to him on his recent visit to the Philippines.

The innovative filmmaker wore the barong at the premiere of his film, “Death Proof,” in Dublin, Ireland. He paired the Philippines’ national shirt with black and white athletic pants, the unusual combo he came up with when he received the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Cinemanila Film Festival from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Malacañang, as shown in this file photo.

Quentin’s pants were drenched when he was forced to ditch his flood-struck limo and ride a pedicab to Malacañang amid heavy rain. So he had to change into athletic pants before receiving the award from GMA.

The ensemble must be comfortable — and he must have enjoyed his stay in the Philippines so much (he is a walking encyclopedia of the films of such Pinoy directors as Cirio H. Santiago and Eddie Romero) that he decided to bring a touch of Pinas all the way to Ireland.

Editor’s note: File photo showing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Quentin Tarantino at the Malacañang Palace in Manila courtesy of Agence France-Presse/Malacañang-PCPO