Tausug lass wins ‘Hiyas sa Kadayawan’ in Davao City

DAVAO CITY, Philippines - Faizal Ampilani, representing the Tausug tribe, won this year’s search for the “Hiyas sa Kadayawan” in Davao City in the southern Philippines.

Ampilani on Wednesday topped the search where ten tribal women, representing ten ethnic tribes of Davao City, competed with their wits, knowledge and talent in the quest for this year’s festival symbol.

The ten tribes of Davao include the Sama, Maranao, Ubo-Manubo, Crisalyn Bangcas, Klata, Ata, Maguindanao, Matigsalog, Kalagan, Tagabawa and Tausug tribes.

As “Hiyas sa Kadayawan”, Ampilani hopes she can help provide musical instruments to the Tausug community in Davao City so that she will be able to help sustain and preserve her tribe’s rich culture.

Ampilani won P50,000 cash prize and an additional P30,000 for her chosen community development project.

Placing second and third are Mary Le-Lainie Coronel of the Tagabawa tribe, who won P40,000, and Amera Amal Ameril of the Maranaw tribe, who won P30,000. The women were bestowed the titles “Hiyas sa Kauswagan” and “Hiyas sa Tingusbawan”, respectively. They were also given P30,000 for their chosen community development projects.

Senator Pia Cayetano, the chairwoman of the board of judges, announced in the program that she will be adding P50,000 more to the community development project of this year’s “Hiyas sa Kadayawan”.

The “Hiyas sa Kadayawan”, one of the main highlights of the Kadayawan Festival, is an annual search for the festival symbol, an indigenous woman who is knowledgeable of her own culture and wisdom. (Ian Garcia)