Color guards waving rainbow-colored flags along C.M. Recto Street. Waves of white and purple fabrics framing employees cheering at the bleachers. A drummer boy standing amid the organized chaos of festivities. These separate moments, captured by different Dabawenyo photographers, shone in the recently concluded Hulagway sa Araw ng Dabaw 2026 photo contest.
From March 1 to March 28, 2026, the City Information Office (CIO) spearheaded the annual Hulagway sa Araw ng Dabaw 2026 photo contest, which received a total of 144 entries. Three photographers stood out—not just for technical perfection , but also for their ability to freeze moments where Dabawenyos of all backgrounds move as one. From the festive yet solemn Parada Dabawenyo along downtown Davao’s streets to the cheering employees in the bleachers, these winning images tell the story of a city that thrives on the vibrant and disciplined character of its people, marching steadily toward progress.
“Kini’ng mga photos naga-showcase dili lang sa kahawod sa atoang photographers sa Davao City, but also sa ilahang vision as creatives. When you say photo dili lang ta muingon nga hawd kaayo sa settings, dili lang ta nga hawd ang camera, we have to tell a story (These photos not only showcase the brilliance of Dabawenyo photographers, but their vision as creatives as well. A photo is more than its setting and a good camera—it tells a story),” Daryl Regner Dadie, one of the judges, said in an interview.
“Diri sa mga photos naa gyu’y story na ginaconvey because these photos are also invitations to discover Davao City (These photos must convey a story since they are also invitations to discover Davao City),” he emphasized.
After careful consideration by the judges, Jerome Batain’s “Colors in Motion” was declared the winner of the competition. “Graceful Motion in Harmony” by Excelso Hiponia Jr. came in second, while Shem Longakit’s “Parada” took third.
“This photo captured the festive vibe of Davao City, potentially inviting tourists to come and visit Davao,” Jev Patalinghug, another judge, said about Batain’s entry.
He added that Batain’s photo met all four criteria the judges looked for—composition, creativity, and other technical aspects.
Batain described his entry as a wide shot that immortalized the vibrant energy of the Araw ng Dabaw street parade.
“This wide shot freezes the vibrant energy of the Araw ng Dabaw street parade. With the vibrant rainbows of colors formed by the flags, this forms an avenue of colors, drawing the viewer to the determined performance of the artist amid the cityscape of Davao,” he wrote.
Dadie also shared that Batain’s entry won first place because it embodied the warmth and colorful characteristics of Davao City residents.
Meanwhile, judge Chris Duko praised Hiponia’s entry for perfectly capturing a moment where all elements in the frame worked seamlessly, resulting in a high-impact photograph.
“Makita nimo nga sa tanan siya ang pinaka-professional. Makita nimo hawd ang technicalities, nagamit niya og maayo iyang camera. Ang subject, ang mga tawo, very sharp focus, and ang timing sa moment (You can see that among everyone, they are the most professional. You can see their mastery of the technicalities; they used their camera very well. The subjects—the people—are in very sharp focus, and the timing of the moments is perfect),” he said.
The winning entries for the Hulagway sa Araw ng Dabaw 2026 are posted on the Hulagway sa Davao Facebook Page for public to view and enjoy. CIO
Written by: J. Villaluz
Edited by: A. Nawal