Mindanao Peace Games (MPG) launched this year’s Cultural Night which highlighted the search for the 2019 MPG Ambassadress this October 27th at the MPCC of Ateneo de Zamboanga, Salvador Campus.

Byronn Velarde, Ateneo de Zamboanga University (AdZU) Center for Culture and the Arts Program officer and the head of Cultural Night preparation, conveyed his amusement to the display of camaraderie that he has seen in the women of MPG.

“Nakita ko ang kanilang preparation, nakita ko ang kanilang unity…nakita ko yung saya nila. They treat each other as not lang kalaro but really a friend na kasama talaga and that was really what struck me the most. The diversity in them, it’s really amazing,” he expressed.

When asked how Cultural Night upholds the values held by MPG, Velarde explained that it’s a way of empowering women, especially with the search for MPG Ambassadress which showcases a different side of the women-athletes.

“Part din kasi ng cultural night kase is we have the ambasadress. So it showcase[s] the women empowerment sa ating delegates. So hindi lang ipinapakita ang kanilang skills [in sports] but also their beauty and their talents and also the brain in answering the questions,” he said.

As the highlight of Cultural Night, the search for the 2019 MPG Ambassadress showed off twelve representatives in their denim, sportswear, and uniform attires representing the different school participants of MPG.

At the awarding, the best in sportswear and uniform attires were awarded to Gianne Kathleen Rodriguez representing Ateneo de Zamboanga University while the best in denim award was given to Maica Alon of the Xavier University (XU).

The pageant concluded with Maica Alon of XU bagging the first runner up while Gianne Kathleen Rodriguez of AdZU was hailed as the 2019 MPG Ambassadress.

Upon her interview after the win, 2019 MPG Ambasadress Gianne Kathleen expressed how she aims to use her title in advocating for the message and values that MPG stands for.

“It’s not about winning or losing, it’s about the experience– the growth. This is about the opportunities that you have right now,” she said. “By inspiring athletes, by talking to them… I want to be an advocate, one of the advocates of Mindanao Peace Games. To ensure the essence of sports, that sports can be an avenue for peace and diversity and, yun lang, as much as possible in my little ways, magampanan ko yung pagiging ambassadress ko.”

On the other hand, assistant coach Ruby Claire Sosoban of the Ateneo de Davao University explained how the role of Cultural Night introduces cultures.

“Sa karon, developing pa man jud. I-try ang best—karon wala, pero last  year naa’y nagsali na naka-hijab, ana… At least mabal-an sa mga tao kung, ma-introduce ang culture,” she said.