Mutya ng Dabaw 2026 Candidates Showcase Wit and Values in Interview Round
Davao City, Philippines – Candidates vying for the title of Mutya ng Dabaw 2026 demonstrated poise, intelligence, and a commitment to their community during a rigorous interview round held on March 15, 2026, at the Sta. Lucia Mall Convention Center. The event is a key component of the ongoing Araw ng Dabaw celebrations.
Interview Rounds Highlight Diverse Perspectives
The interview round featured three segments designed to assess the candidates’ wit, personality, and views on important social issues: the Emoji Cue Round, the Mutya-to-Mutya Round, and the TaranTanong Round.
Addressing Cancel Culture and Accountability
During the TaranTanong Round, candidates were asked for their thoughts on “cancel culture.” Mutya 13 voiced a strong preference for accountability over cancellation, stating, “I’m actually not in favor of cancel culture since cancelling someone similarly means that you are not allowing them a chance for redemption, and that’s why instead of cancelling someone I believe we necessitate to hold them accountable instead, because usually this such culture is being used as a weapon against persons. Instead, we need to hold them accountable and allow them to grow as persons.” Her statement was met with applause from the audience.
Comfort and Style: A Generational Preference
The Emoji Cue Round revealed a consensus among Batch 2 candidates regarding footwear. When asked to choose between sneakers and heels, they unanimously favored sneakers, prioritizing comfort. Mutya 12 noted, “I prefer sneakers over heels. However, wearing heels makes you very elegant.”
Exploring Identity and Leadership
The Mutya-to-Mutya Round provided a platform for candidates to engage directly with one another. Mutya 15 asked Mutya 19, “Who is Hannah?” Mutya 19 responded, “I define Hannah, as my apa would call me, a ‘leader girl’, and I believe I am so, because I believe I am a holistic person, I’m able to embrace both the quality and bad light that I have, put it in the spotlight and show it to the world.”
Promoting Peace, Critical Thinking, and National Unity
A question from an online viewer, posed during the TaranTanong Round, asked how a Mutya could actively promote peace, critical thinking, and national unity. Mutya 2 answered, “To be Mutya is not just somehow to wave our hands in front of many people, but is someone who is a torch to bring hope for the youth, especially now that we are facing a crisis that our youth are the ones who are really affected by it, it is now the time for us, as Mutya to empower or cultivate the minds of every younger generation that education is powerful, too.”
The Role of a Mutya in the Digital Age
Mutya 7 shared her perspective on the role of a Mutya in today’s digital landscape, stating, “For me, we lived in a very digital generation, and I believe that promoting peace as Mutya, because we are lucky enough to be connected. For me, peace doesn’t just start between government halls, peace also starts within us, and if we want change, change must start within ourselves.”
Balut and Cultural Identity
A lighthearted moment during the Emoji Cue Round involved candidates’ preferences for balut, a traditional Filipino delicacy. While most expressed enjoyment, Mutya 16 admitted to being initially surprised by the taste.
Defining Success and Embracing Transformation
During the Mutya-to-Mutya Round, Mutya 20 asked Mutya 8, “What does winning Mutya ng Dabaw indicate to you?” Mutya 8 responded, “it would mean everything, because it would mean the culmination, the success and all the hard work, that I’ve done, that everybody’s done to support me is a success, and also it would be the start, for me to finally process my advocacy not just for the women of Davao but hopefully for the women of the Philippines.” Mutya 6 described her journey as “transformative,” sharing, “To be honest, last preliminary, I wasn’t at my best; I almost slipped during the evening gown competition, but this is to remind everyone that if you fall seven times, always stand up eight (times). Transformative because I was once a person who can’t, but now I am a person who can.”
Protecting Davao’s Identity in a Changing World
Addressing a question from the live audience during the TaranTanong Round, Mutya 3 emphasized the importance of authenticity in protecting Davao’s identity and values. She stated, “I believe that one value that is very important would be authenticity in this situation. I believe that leadership is a very important thing in our society, and it starts with being original and authentic, and of course, someone with integrity. Celebrating the 89th Araw ng Dabaw, we really can see the strong discipline of Davao City, and I believe that in order to continue this progress, we should promote leaders and embody as GanDabawenyos in this platform, promote leaders who are strong to their values, after all I do believe that true leadership is like a bridge: it is something that connects purpose with action and people with hope.”
The interview round concluded on a high note, with cheers from the audience as the candidates completed the segments. The grand coronation night is scheduled for March 20, 2026, at the University of Southeastern Philippines Gymnasium.