MATI CITY (July 20) — In the words of the First Lady of Davao Oriental, Nanette Dayanghirang, the city “speaks so much about beauty.”
During the 51st Founding Anniversary last July 1, Dayanghirang has successfully organized Davao Oriental’s most awaited fashion show, dubbed as Dayaw Badu which fabulously showcased a contemporary take on traditional attire of Davao Oriental and the whole of Mindanao.
The fashion show held at the Capitol’s covered court featured eighty exquisite creations from eight top designers of the country who turned traditional attire into contemporary street wear, cocktail outfits and long, formal gowns while retaining the original essence of the designs.
All the clothes featured in the fashion show were exclusively made by the Davao Fashion and Design Council.
Dayaw Badu showed the flexibility of Davao Oriental and Mindanao’s traditional attire not only for formal occasions by blending the laid-back designs and modern style into one, and making it perfect for today’s fashion trends.
Traditional attire however, like the cultures they belong to, is constantly evolving, adopting from other cultures as well as adapting to the times, but often these adopted elements are altered according to the native sense of beauty.
With traditional attire, one declares his or her oneness with his or her own people, taking pride in the artistry and heritage that the attire so much holds,” said the First Lady of Davao Oriental, Nanette Dayanghirang, who was a gorgeous standout in her glittering Mandaya-inspired evening gown.
She later joined the young female and male fashion models on the stage in showcasing the colourful dresses of the Mandaya tribe.
“ At the lobby of the sprawling provincial Capitol, the audience were also regaled by a photo exhibit of Mandaya garbs. The Mandayas are natives of Davao Oriental, an area known of old as Provincia de Caraga.
Governor Nelson Dayanghirang said the Dayaw Badu Fashion Show has infused new life to traditional textiles.
“As you all know, we have been producing textiles since pre-colonial times. Different ethnic groups have their own traditions of textile weaving using different kinds of looms, employing various techniques and showing an impressive range of designs. This is a proud statement to the rest of the world that our cultural groups in the province and the whole of Mindanao, known for its generosity, are growing and will continue to embrace our peaceful co-existence,” he pointed out.
Joining the fashion models on stage during the Dayaw Badu Fashion Show were local celebrities. Among them were the provincial director of the DILG, Yvette Tolentino-Sunga; the wife of the mayor of the City of Mati, Maria Emperatriz Garcia Rabat; Lt. Col. Miguel Ramon of the Philippine Army; Tanya Rabat Tan; Provincial Board Member Anna Louise Tambilawan; Mayor Katrina Joy Orencia; Mae Dayanghirang-Llavore; Elyanna Nenita Dayanghirang. Also gracing the fashion show were the daughters of the governor, Camille Joyce Dayanghirang Chiu and Therese Nicole Dayanghirang.-NewsLine.ph contributors Karen Lou Deloso, Ferdinand Zuasola/Photo by Eden Jhan Licayan)
