The flower does not dream of the bee. It blossoms and the bee comes. It is not enough that you have a dream.
A dream is just a dream unless acted upon. And yes, the undeniably beautiful Dabawenyas who vied for this year’s most prestigious title did just that.
From twenty-eight, they were trimmed down to fifteen. And now, after the much awaited coronation night, we have five regal ladies that represents and embodies a true Dabawenya — something that Mutya ng Dabaw founder and former City Mayor Elias B. Lopez envisioned the pageant to be.
Congratulations and Mabuhay to our Mutya ng Dabaw 2018 and her royal court.
Mutya ng Dabaw 2018 is 21 year old Shelah Faye Juntilla who hailed from Barangay Calinan.
Diwa ng Davao 2018 is also a 21 year old Dabawenya from Barangay 76-A, Cindy Pauline Benedicto.
Sinag ng Davao 2018 is the 22 year old Dabawenya from Dumoy, Pamela Framil.
Pag-asa ng Davao 2018 is the 21 year old Claudine Alyssandra Verga from Barangay Buhangin.
Patnubay ng Davao 2018 is Mary Rose Vicente, a 21 year old Dabawenya from Barangay 31-D.
Braving the many challenges and hurdles in between, each of them represented a story of bravery, optimism and love towards others and themselves. The accolades and support formed part of their reason to go forth and aim for the crown. And they did. They all did.
The Mutya ng Dabaw is truly one of the most anticipated event during the Araw ng Dabaw celebrations. Aside from the obvious, it is through this event that we see how diverse the culture of Davao is and how the diversity connected one from the other.
Hailed as pageant like no other, it is not only driven by one’s physical appearance and aesthetics but more so, by a Dabawenya’s intellect, compassion and substance. With the Women’s Code (City Ordinance 5004 of 1997) in place, the pageant, as lifted from the ordinance, “…implements gender responsive policies for the protection and promotion of women’s rights and welfare”. Thus, protecting women from being an object of desire.
It is also during this event that we learned of the candidates advocacies that ranged from environmental concerns to children’s rights, empowerment and gender sensitive issues to name a few. Relatively, the advocacy of the candidates became a representation of themselves all throughout the pageant.
From the start, Dan Salvaño, organizer of the Mutya ng Dabaw 2018, promised a pageant that will showcase women empowerment through a more modern Dabawenya that greatly exudes confidence and substance. And he delivered.
The Mutya ng Dabaw 2018 coronation night was held at the Rizal Memorial Colleges (RMC) Gym, Filoil Flying V Event Center, Davao City last March 15, 2018.
