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| photo courtesy of CIO |
The beautiful women representing Davao City’s 11 tribes in the Hiyas ng Kadayawan this year have their eyes not only on winning the crown, but in getting the crown, literally.
A lot of work is invested from the conceptualization up to the actual creation of the crowns since they have become symbolic of the pageants they represent.
City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) Head Gene Rose Tecson said the Hiyas ng Kadayawan crown has indeed come a long from years way back when the crowns were heavier and bigger.
“This time, the crown is simpler but more elegant,” Tecson said.
“This year’s Hiyas ng Kadayawan crown is grander and more functional,” said Dan Salvaña, Jr. who is Hiyas ng Kadayawan events director for the second consecutive year.
The crown for this year’s Hiyas ng Kadayawan is a befitting representation of the Waling-Waling or vanda sanderiana, one of the icons of Davao City and of the Kadayawan Festival. The Festival used to be called Apo Duwaling which is a play on the three icons of the city namely Mt. Apo, Durian and the Waling-Waling.
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| photo courtesy of CIO |
Waling-Waling, which is endemic in Mindanao, is the queen of Philippine orchids.
Salvana said the design of the Hiyas ng Kadayawan crown is changed every year since there is actually no permanent design for the Hiyas crown.
“When I talked to the designer I told him to use the same inspiration for the event logo which is the waling waling, but to make it more colorful,” he said.
Tres Roldan Cartera of Nabunturan designed the Hiyas ng Kadayawan crown using lighter materials such as rhinestones. These crystals are lighter but shinier especially under the night lights during the pageant. The Hiyas ng Kadayawan Grand Winner will get the biggest crown while the runners-up will get almost identical but smaller versions of the crown.
Saldana said the CTOO will safe keep the crown for the Hiyas ng Kadayawan winner. The crowns will be used by the winners during official events. But when their terms end, then they get to keep the crown.
