The Mutya ng Dabaw 2016 top 15 candidates are presented to the press during the regular I-Speak press conference at the Davao City Hall. They will compete for the crown on March 15 at the Davao Recreational Center. (Ace R. Morandante/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY — Pageant organizers presented the top 15 finalists of the Mutya ng Dabaw 2016 on Thursday, March 4 to members of the Davao press, as the city prepares for the celebration of the 79th charter day of the city.
City Councilor and chairperson of the committee on tourism Al Ryan Alejandre presented the 15 finalists as he disclosed that “this is the second year since 2015 wherein instead of choosing only 10 candidates, 15 were included as finalists”.
The 15 finalists will vie for the crown on March 15 at the Davao City Recreation Center.
“We are so proud to say that these ladies in front of you are all deserving to become a Mutya ng Dabaw, also this is the only pageant that doesn’t have a swim wear competition because of the city’s Women’s Code,” Alejandre said.
The Women Development Code of Davao City or City Ordinance No. 5004 was passed in 1997 and is a landmark in the country’s local legislation. The code seeks to design, adopt, and implement gender responsive policies for the protection and promotion of women’s rights and welfare.
The top 15 candidates include: Keena Dacubor, Shania Tunguia, Joenica Roquie, Elda Aznar, Jovilyn Gavan, Angelica Almaden, Kathleen Beniga, Thea Margarette Elipio, Maria Karis del Corro, Mary Chelsie Delmar, Alyza Theodoro, Lucilee Gokotano, Ariesha Dimaano, Mithilaya Miclat and Dane Sillo.
The candidates presented their advocacies during the meeting with the members of the press, a feature in the pageant that Alejandre said makes the Mutya ng Dabaw “beyond a beauty pageant”.
Two of the 15 finalists said that they will carry on programs that will support the welfare of the indigenous people’s – including Aznar and Tunguia.
The other candidates also said they will support livelihood programs for communities, education programs for out-of-school youth, empowerment of barangays, socio-civic involvement of youth, welfare of children with special needs, environment conservation, social entrepreneurship through organic farming, public health nutrition, HIV-AIDS awareness, city’s tourism, and senior citizen’s welfare.
The 79th Araw ng Davao is a week-long event that will open on March 12, Saturday at 5:00 in the afternoon. The opening will be led by City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte who will be having his last term as Davao’s mayor.
Alejandre said the opening will include a tribute for Mayor Duterte. (davaotoday.com)
