'Mutya ng Dabaw' finalists vie for crown

MUTYA NG DABAW FINALISTS (L-R): Vanessa Ruth Chan, Franilyn A. Sendiong, Patrice M. Su, Richelle Ann Marie Liao, and Resa Angeli Rizada (from www.mutyangdabaw.com)

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 9, 2009) - Five out of the 15 finalists to the 2009 Mutya ng Dabaw were finally chosen after a series of screening and interviews in Davao City in Mindanao.

The five candidates will vie for the titles Sinag ng Dabaw, Patnubay ng Dabaw, Pag-asa ng Dabaw, Diwa ng Dabaw and the much-coveted Mutya ng Dabaw during the Coronation Night on March 14 at CAP Auditorium.

The finalists are Patrice M. Su, a 3rd year HRM student of the Ateneo de Davao University whose advocacy project is “Education to the youth”; Vanessa Ruth Chan, a nursing graduate of the San Pedro College whose advocacy project is “Child Welfare”; Richelle Ann Marie Liao, a 3rd year Mass Communication student of the Ateneo de Davao University whose advocacy project is “Livelihoood Program”; Franilyn A. Sendiong, a public administration student of the Ateneo de Davao University whose advocacy project is “integrated project in community development centered in youth“; and Resa Angeli Rizada, a nursing Graduate, San Pedro College, advocacy project is “social change through social entrepreneurship”.

Prior to the finals night, the candidates will be participating in various Araw ng Dabaw events. They will also be presenting their advocacy project and will be showcased in a fashion presentation on March 11 at the NCCC Mall Activity Center. The ladies will also be having a fashion presentation at Chinatown 168 Mall on March 15.

The Mutya ng Dabaw’s duties and responsibilities include leading the reception team to welcome the city’s guests and attending official social and cultural functions. She will also represent Davao City in special events within and outside the city and is expected to perform her proposed community development project within her reign in partnership with an assigned organization or foundation.

The criteria for this year’s search are: Intelligence (awareness and the ability to analyze issues and concerns; knowledge of Davao’s history and culture) - 25%, Communication skills (wit and ability to communicate her ideas with substance effectively) - 25%, Personality (agreeable physical outlook, character traits and behavior including attitudes towards peers, community and persons of authority) - 25%, Talent (special skills and abilities) - 15%, and Quality of Proposed Project Design - 10%.

The Mutya ng Dabaw represents the enlightened Dabawenya, a strong-willed, outspoken yet charming, confident yet humble woman whose intelligence and skills are dedicated to community building, goodwill and development.

Online voting is also available at http://www.mutyangdabaw.com/ courtesy of Digilution. (Ian Garcia)