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.

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.

After the prayers, “Bahaghari Tayo”, the celebration’s official theme, will be performed by popular Dabawenyo artist and the song’s composer Popong Landero, together with the Davao Community Band, Blue Velvet Band and the Kaliwat Theater Collective. Kaliwat Theater Collective, Davao Community Band, Blue Velvet Band, Davao Boys Choir, Matina Central ES Choir, UIC Chorale, Madayaw Cultural Troupe, and students from Magallanes Elementary School will then share the stage for the “Dabaw: Sulyap Salaysay” production number.

Mr. Sammy Uy, this year’s co-chairperson of the celebration’s Executive Committee (EXECOM), will deliver the Pagpapasalamat speech while City Councilor Myrna Dalodo-Ortiz and Mr. Lafayette Lim, EXECOM vice-chairperson will talk about the theme and introduce the EXECOM members of this year’s celebration.

This will be followed by the “Ang Dakilang Pangako” number to be performed by local artist Juliet Bahala together with the Davao Boys Choir, UIC Chorale, Matina Central ES Choir, Blue Velvet Band, Davao Community Band and Kaliwat.

City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte, who is the chairman of Araw ng Dabaw 2009 EXECOM, will deliver the celebratory address while Councilor Ortiz will raise the theme along with EXECOM co-chairperson Mr. Samuel Uy.

The program, to be hosted by Oscar Casaysay and Mutya ng Dabaw 2004 Aileen Cainglit, will close with the community singing of the “Tayo’s Dabawenyo”.

The 72nd Araw ng Dabaw celebration highlights include the Museo Dabawenyo DUHWOW : DABAW Exhibit Opening (March 10, 10 AM, Museo Dabawenyo), Kalasikas Cultural Performances (March 10-16, 6-9 PM, People’s Park), PAGTUGYAN: Yuchengco Scholarship Program Launching (March 12, 3 PM, Rizal Park), Unveiling of Datu Bago Mural (March 12, 5 PM, Museo Dabawenyo), SALIDAbaw: MTV Finals (March 13, 3 PM, Gaisano Mall), Mutya ng Dabaw Coronation Night (March 14, 6 PM, CAP Auditorium), Sayawan sa Da’n (March 15, 2-8 PM, from Legazpi St., Rizal St., Bolton St., San Pedro St., to City Hall Drive), Pasasalamat :Thanksgiving Mass (March 16, 6 AM, San Pedro Cathedral), Parada Dabawenyo (March 16, 8 AM-12 NN, from Magsaysay Ave., CM Recto Ave., Bonifacio St., Legaspi St., San Pedro St., to Quimpo Blvd.), Banda Hudyaka : Showdown Presentation (March 16, 2 PM, People’s Park), Dickies presents: Pahalipay ni Mayor Concert featuring Slapshock (March 16, 7 PM, Rizal Park). On-going events include the Agri-Trade Fair (February 28-Macrh 16, SM City Grounds), Hudyakaan: Street Food Festival (March 9-16, 4 PM-2 AM, Bolton St., beside Sanguniang Panlungsod), and Chinatown Night Market (14-16 March, 6 PM-2 AM, R. Magsaysay Ave.).

For more information, visit www.arawngdabaw.com and www.mutyangdabaw.com.

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).