79th Araw ng Dabaw 2016 Opening Ceremony Program Highlights

Yesterday, March 12, 2016 was the official opening of the 79th Araw ng Dabaw celebration. The opening started with a Thanksgiving Mass in San Pedro Cathedral at 5:00 PM. The opening ceremony then followed at 6:00 PM at San Pedro Square. The opening ceremony started in opening prayer video presentation that shows both Christian and Muslim prayers, then followed by singing of national anthem and Tayo'y Dabawenyo. All platinum, major and minor sponsors of the Araw ng Dabaw were also mentioned. The opening ceremony was attended by some of the city councilors. Davao City Mayor and presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte and his running mate Senator Alan Peter Cayetano were also present.

This will be the last time the mayor of Davao City for 22 years will celebrate Araw ng Dabaw with Dabawenyos. His speech this time, though he gave a brief but meaningful history of Davao City, Davao Region and the Moro people in Mindanao, overall it was more inclined to campaigning since he is running for President. He was in his usual self, cursing and giving some funny jokes about the other presidentiables. His welcome address speech ended in a dance portion together with some Davao City councilors and Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.

Also presented in the opening ceremony are the Top 15 candidates of the Mutya ng Dabaw 2016. Below are some of the pictures and the video of Mayor Duterte and Senator Alan Cayetano dancing the "Duterte Dance".

Choir Singing National Anthem and Tayo'y Dabawenyo

Senator Alan Cayetano Giving His Speech

15 Mutya ng Dabaw Finalists

Photo Credits:

iFM 93.9 Davao Facebook Page (Official Media Partner of 79th Araw ng Dabaw)