The Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper
Search is on for ‘Mutya ng Arakan 2019’
THE SEARCH is on for the prestigious and most-awaited beauty contest in the municipality of Arakan in North Cotabato province – The Mutya ng Arakan 2019 – with 10 lovely and gorgeous women vying for the coveted title.
The contestants are Jonna Mae Sumatra, Lea Vianca Rendon, Cherry Mae Lampon, Princess Torres, Ladylyn Tabaosarez, Christine Joy Geolama, Darlyn Grace Libut, Maricar Diama, Nobie Carado and Axcelle Jade Rubio.
In-charge of this year’s Mutya ng Arakan is the Department of Education – West District under the leadership of District Supervisor Dr. Lucy F. Gulmatico with Pageant Committee Chairman Richard G. Laluna. And Eden Ampatin, pageant consultant, and Sanguniang Bayan member Delfin J. Moreno, Jr., the local government coordinator.
Arakan Mayor Rene Rubino and Vice Mayor Jennifer Araña-pangilinan, who are very supportive of the event, said the pageant does not only show the beauty of the local women, but it also shows the rich cultural presentation of the town.
Members of the Sanguniang Bayan also praised the event and urged the locals to support and participate in the Mutya ng Arakan by actively sharing the news of the event on social media and to their friends and relatives residing outside the province, and by simply spreading the good news about Arakan and its festivals, it will surely attract local and foreign tourists and bring economic prosperity to the peaceful town.
The screening process for the Mutya ng Arakan 2019 was held on July 6 at the 3A Brother’s Café and was followed by a pictorial for lucky contestants a week later and on August 3 they held tree planting activity and community outreach mission at Sitio Inamong. The Coronation Night is set on August 26 at the Arakan Municipal Gymnasium.
The search for Mutya ng Arakan 2019 is part of the town’s 5th Sagaya Festival celebration and 28th Founding Anniversary with the theme “Arakan @ 28: Enjoying Success, United in Achieving Our Bigger Dreams.”
On August 27, there will be Farmers’ Day and Farmers’ Night, and also an Agri Fair featuring fresh farm produce such as fruits and vegetables. And on August 28, Arakan will celebrate the Indigenous People’s Day, a basketball competition and the Educators’ Night. The next day, it will have its Liga Day, Volleyball Women’s Inter-agency Championship Game, and Acrobatic Shows, including the ABC-SK-ABCL-BASLEAABTA Night.
And the culmination of the festival is on August 30 and will be highlighted by a Civic Parade, Championship Game Basketball Tournament Inter-agency Commercial League and Disco ng Bayan by nightfall.
Arakan is famous for its tourist attractions such as water falls, caves and rivers, and its 500-hectare Forest Wildlife Park in Barangay Salasang which is home to majestic Philippine Eagles and hornbills.
The town’s name is derived from the Manobo term “ara,” which means abundance of natural resources in the valley and “kan” which means heroism, bravery and valor of the early Manobo leaders and settlers of the area. The word “arakan” then was named referring to one of the rivers of the valley and basically a territory of a number of ethno-linguistic groups, predominantly of the Manobo-kulamanon and Manobo-tinananon tribes.
The original settlers of the place are the Manobos, which were believed to have originally come from the string of islands in the Malayan Peninsula and Borneo. (Rhoderick Beñez and and Municipal Administrator Bhobong Reovoca)