The 15 beautiful Mutya ng Davaw semi-finalists pose for pictorial in Davao City in southern RP. (Photo by Ian Garcia)

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 28, 2008) - The top fifteen semi-finalists of Mutya ng Dabaw 2008 will be presented to the local media on Saturday at the 5th floor of Gaisano South CitiMall here.

The top fifteen Mutya ng Dabaw candidates are Vanessa Ruth Chan, Mary Jane Lastimoso, Vida Maya Ko, Jocel Kusain, Lezlie Jean Tik-ing, Cheryl Vilog, Kristabelle Go, April Ann La Paz, Aliah Heitz, Kristel Ann Iñigo, Catherine Grace Malabanan, Delsea Rain de Guzman, Karen Joyce Peñanueva, Maricar Durias and Brigette Anne Lanzanas.

The semi-finalists were chosen after a series of thorough screening, selection process and talent search last week at the Royal Mandaya Hotel, NCCC Mall and Gaisano Mall of Davao. Kristabelle Go, Aliah Heitz, Kristel Ann Iñigo and Cheryl Vilog were chosen as top three contenders for Miss Talent.

Out of the fifteen, five finalists will be selected on March 4 at the SM City Entertainment Plaza. The finalists will undergo Community Interactions on March 5-7, and workshops, training and rehearsals on March 8-14. They will vie for the crown on March 14 at the CAP Audiorium.

The Mutya ng Dabaw will be chosen based on the following criteria: Intelligence (25%), Communication Skills (25%), Personality (25%), Talent (15%) and Quality of Proposed Project Design (10%).

As the Mutya ng Dabaw, she will lead the reception team to welcome guests of the city, attend official social and cultural functions of the city, represent the city, when assigned to special events within and outside the city, and perform her proposed community development project within her reign in partnership with an assigned organization of foundation.

For more information, visit the official website at www.arawngdabaw.com.(Ian Garcia)