Winners of the 2025 Destination Davao Videomaking Contest showcased what makes a Dabawenyo proud, with videos that captured the heart and soul of the city and its people.
Destination Davao is an annual videomaking contest spearheaded by the City Information Office, which seeks to highlight and promote Davao City through videos produced by local filmmakers and hobbyists.
The contest ran from May 13 to June 23, 2025 and was themed “Destination Davao 2025: #DabawenyoPride.”
Among the winners was Liwalente Films, with their entry “Our Late Night Project,” which won third place in the said contest.
The production team was composed of students who brought a different perspective in promoting the city with a short film-like take on the theme.
Destination Davao judges praised the group’s unique approach in promoting Davao City, and defining what makes a Dabawenyo proud.
Judge Julie AR Sibala, a Multimedia Arts Professor, said during the judging of the event that the production’s entry is also a good encouragement for students and young filmmakers to take part in such competitions.
“For the younger generation to have this kind of input or perspective, nakita nato nga they put so much effort nga wala nila ginadula-dula lang (For the younger generation to have this kind of input or perspective, we saw how they put in so much effort—that they took this seriously),” Judge Tio Moreno, Writer and Social Media Influencer, added.
“Proud and Progressing,” New Sight Cinema’s entry, which bagged the second prize for the Destination Davao 2025, showed how the city grew with its people.
The video emphasized the city’s improvement and development alongside Dabawenyos who also continued to bring pride and honor to the city.
“The video depicted how Davao City is progressing not just because of the infrastructures, but most importantly because of the people,” Moreno said.
Out of the nine entries, Media Cre’s “Panahanan” stood out with its near perfect balance of creative and technical approach in showcasing what makes Dabawenyos proud.
Judge Ryan de los Reyes, Professional Videographer, said during the judging of the competition that Panahanan emphasized that Davao may be known for the Durian, Waling-Waling, Philippine Eagle, and the Mt. Apo, but there is much more to that.
Through carefully strung metaphors anchored beyond the symbolism of Davao’s icons, Panahan was able to highlight the city’s tourist destinations while also putting an emphasis on how Davao is not just a home for the people who grew up in the city, but also to everyone who only came to either visit or plant their roots in the city.
“Nice iyahang beginning because gi-point out niya nga ilado na ta sa atoang icons. He was trying to tell us na we are more than that (It was good that the video started by pointing out that Davao City is already known for its icons, and then telling us that we are more than these icons),” de los Reyes said.
“Ang iyahang focus nga Davao is a home. Balay siya nga dawaton ka, sa bisan kinsa man ka (It focuses on how Davao City is home. It is a home that will welcome you),” Sibala added.
Meanwhile, Jouveniel Phej Villanueva’s “This is How We Live” received the Special Distinction Award with its depiction of how the discipline, honesty, and integrity of Dabawenyos are just some of the things that make the city and its people proud.
It highlighted how Dabawenyos and visitors alike are free to roam around the city even at night without fear of falling victims to criminal acts such that the city is known for its peace and order, one that is achieved through the collaborative efforts of Dabawenyos and the city’s safety and security cluster.
Winners of the Destination Davao videomaking contest are entitled to cash prizes, trophies, and certificates.
Entries to the Destination Davao 2025 may be viewed on the Hulagway sa Davao’s Official Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/hulagwaysadavao. CIO
