Ang Dabawenyo

Resci Angeli Rizada

Resci Angeli Rizada, a nursing graduate of one of the leading nursing schools in the city, has won the crown and the hearts of Dabawenyos for this year’s search for the Mutya ng Dabaw. She was hailed this year’s reigning Mutya during the coronation night held yesterday, 14 March 2009 (Saturday) at the CAP Auditorium.

Rizada, a summa cum laude graduate of the San Pedro College, is also a member of the Recognizing Outstanding Davao Youth (RODY) Project, Future Leaders of Asia, and a regional and national finalist of the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines.

Representing the new, enlightened Dabawenya, a strong-willed, outspoken yet charming, confident yet humble woman whose intelligence and skills are dedicated to community building, goodwill and development, Rizada has won ₱50,000.00 in cash plus a trophy and other prizes.

She has also won a matching grant from her sponsoring foundation/organization for her chosen advocacy project, which is focused on “social change through social entrepreneurship”. We hope to hear from her soon with regards the concrete plans she has in mind to achieve this worthy advocacy.

Rizada’s court is comprised of Diwa ng Dabaw winner, Vanessa Ruth Chan; Sinag ng Dabaw winner, Patrice Su; Pag-Asa ng Dabaw winner, Richelle Ann Liao; and Patnubay ng Dabaw winner, Franilyn Sendiong.

The winner of the Mutya ng Dabaw was chosen based on the following criteria: intelligence (25%), communication skills (25%), personality (25%), talent (15%) and quality of proposed project design (10%).

The coronation night was Web-cast live worldwide though its official website, MutyaNgDabaw.com, a first in the history of the celebration of the city’s charter anniversary. Live streaming of other highlights and features of the Araw ng Dabaw celebration can be seen on ArawNgDabaw.com.

[Media Release]

Araw ng Dabaw, the city’s celebration of its 72nd charter anniversary, officially opens on 9 March 2009, 4:00 PM with the “DAWOW” Grand Opening Ceremony at Quezon Park (in front of City Hall).

The program will kick off with a musical presentation by the Davao Community Band and Blue Velvet Band, followed by a prayer to be rendered into song by the Davao Boys Choir, Matina Central ES Choir and UIC Chorale. A thanksgiving prayer will be led by Carlito Guinto, Jr., representing the indigenous community, Samrah Nuh, representing the Muslim community, and Archimedes Udaundo, representing the Christian community, symbolizing the city’s multi-cultural population. Read the full story

Araw ng Dabaw will be upon us again in March 2009. This year is the 72nd anniversary of the city’s foundation day, and the theme is “Pagtupad sa Dakilang Pangako“. For more information about Davao City’s history, please see the relevant entry in Wikipedia.

Here is the Calendar of Activities, courtesy of the City Tourism Operations Office. The official date of Davao City’s foundation day is 16 March, but there are many events scheduled around this date (including the 2nd Davao Food Appreciation Tour).