THE candidates for this year’s Hiyas sa Kadayawan are advocating for quality education for the eleven ethnolinguistic tribes of Davao City.
For the eleven Hiyas sa Kadayawan candidates, who represent each of the ethnolinguistic tribes, education can protect their community from discrimination, exploitation, and help in defending their ancestral lands.
During a presentation of the Hiyas candidates on Wednesday, August 2, 2022, the indigenous people (IP) candidates wants to strengthen their espective cultural identity to preserve their ancestral lands.
“We need to educate the young ones kay kami man gyod ang next generation para makabalo sila kung unsa ang katungod sa mga (because we are the next generation, so we could learn about the rights of) indigenous peoples... Ang uban nagabaligya na sa ilang yutang habilin nga kailangan gyod na i-preserve (Some are already selling their ancestral lands when it should be preserved),” Bagobo-Tagabawa representative Leizly May Mendoza said.
“Through education, we have a weapon to defend ourselves from discrimination, criticisms, and those people who invade our ancestral domain with ill intetnions,” Dianaruth Campong of the Matugsalug tribe added.
Education can also prevent exploitation among IP communities by teaching them about their rights. Bagobo-Klata representative Krezyl Joy Ungab said education is the key to IP’s rights and empowerment to help them stand on their own.
Ata representative Emylyn Armodia added, “I will educate them on their rights as a Filipino citizen. We stand and dili mi ma-manipulate (We will stand and we will not be manipulated) because we should live as peaceful citizens here in Davao City.”
For the Moro candidates, education is also a tool to address the discrimination faced by their tribes. Maranao candidate Beauty Rose Gandarosa said she advocates for cultural awareness to spread knowledge about the Maranaos and other Moro groups.
“They will be informed about how we dress, how we speak, about our cultural dances and music,” Gandarosa said.
The Hiyas sa Kadayawan is one of the major events most awaited by Kadayawan spectators, both local and outside of Davao.
Kadayawan Executive Committee spokesperson Dava City Councilor Al Ryan Alejandre said the focus on cultural preservation and advocies of the tribes is what makes the Hiyas sa Kadayawan different from other pageants.
The winner will receive a prize of P100,000, while succeeding runner ups are given P80,000 and P60,000. A consolation prize of P25,000 will also be given to non-title holders.
The cultural presentation or talent competition will be held on August 6 at Bantawan Amphitheathre while the most-awaited coronation night will be on August 17 at the RMC Petro Gazz Arena.
The candidates for this year’s Hiyas sa Kadayawan are Emylyn Armodia of the Ata tribe, Krezyl Joy Ungab from Bagobo-Klata, Leizly May Mendoza from Bagobo-Tagabawa, Dianaruth Campong from Matigsalug, Lady Ray Bangga-an from Obu-Manuvu, Erika Kandog from Iranun, Alneza Bangasin from Kagan, Jiara Mae Sakal from Maguindanaon, Beauty Rose Gandarosa from Maranao, Sitti Rohilmina Emani from Sama, and Maisara Mendoza from Taosug. ICM