(Photo by PIA)
The 37 candidates of Mutya ng Pilipinas 2026 visited tourist attractions in Davao City and the Island Garden City of Samal as part of the pageant’s efforts to promote local tourism.
Mutya ng Pilipinas president Cory Quirino said Davao City and Samal were selected as this year’s featured destinations, marking the first time both areas were chosen for the pageant’s tourism promotion activities.
“Taon-taon ang Mutya ng Pilipinas ay mayroong sariling travel destination kaya ngayong taon pinili namin ang Davao kasama na ang Samal,” Quirino said in an interview with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
The candidates visited Kadayawan Village at Magsaysay Park, where they learned about the traditions and cultural heritage of Davao City’s 11 ethnolinguistic groups.
Established in 2017, the cultural village features replicas of traditional indigenous houses and provides visitors opportunities to interact with representatives of the city’s Lumad and Moro communities.
The delegates also sampled local delicacies and fruits, including durian, marang, and pomelo.
Pangasinan representative Claire Cacao praised Davao’s abundance of fresh fruits, saying she particularly enjoyed the region’s agricultural products.
Meanwhile, Nicole Joycean Peñaserada of Buhi, Camarines Sur, expressed admiration for the destinations they visited, particularly Pearl Farm Resort on Samal Island.
“Ang masasabi ko lang, ayaw ko pa talagang umuwi. I hope we can extend; I hope I can come back to Davao,” Peñaserada said.
The candidates also paid a courtesy visit to Davao City Vice Mayor Rigo Duterte and members of the City Council.
Their itinerary included Pearl Farm Resort, Paragon, and Davao Global Township.
Quirino said the pageant aims to showcase Philippine destinations through candidates representing various provinces, local government units, and overseas Filipino communities.
“Andito ang 37 candidates ng Mutya ng Pilipinas and we are here to promote tourism, we are here to promote the very best of the Philippines,” she said.
She added that the candidates could help attract more visitors, particularly overseas Filipinos planning to return to the country during the Christmas season.
The Department of Tourism Region 11, Davao City Tourism Operations Office, and Samal City government assisted in organizing the tourism activities.
Davao City Tourism Operations Office officer-in-charge Willenito Tormis welcomed the delegation and thanked the pageant organizers for selecting Davao as a featured destination.
Tormis said the visit would help introduce Davao City’s attractions to a wider tourism market.
