ELEVEN candidates representing Davao City’s ethnolinguistic tribes will take part in a grand coronation on August 14 to be crowned as the next Hiyas sa Kadayawan and uphold their advocacies on cultural preservation and youth empowerment.
The contestants attended a media presentation on Aug. 1 at the Acacia Hotel to present advocacies on strengthening IP education, cultural literacy in the digital era, or reconnecting the youth to their roots to benefit their respective communities.
Jozelle Lanciano, representing the Bagobo-Klata tribe, shared her message to the younger generation, where she emphasized that the youth must show love for their own culture and tribe.
Catherine Kate Oda from the Bagobo-Tagabawa tribe advocated for traditional ecological knowledge for the children in her community, as she noticed that they had begun to be interested in their culture.
On Aug. 9, the cultural presentation (talent competition) will be held at SM City Davao Annex event Center, while the coronation night will take place at the University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP) gymnasium and cultural center in the evening.
Hiyas ng Kadayawan 2025 is a major annual event of the Kadayawan Festival that is not only a beauty pageant but a platform to celebrate Davao’s rich cultural heritage and unity among tribes.
