03/04/2026
๐โ๐ฒ๐ ๐ญ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐จ๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ ๐
Celebrating beauty, culture, and pride of being a true Jasenya!
The title Bโya te JAS 2026 is a cultural recognition, not a political position and not a commercial title. It honors an Indigenous woman whose leadership reflects the values of Kรฉpiyaan and whose life work contributes to the protection of ancestral domain, cultural continuity, and community well-being.
๐๐๐ฉ๐ช๐ง๐ ๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ง๐๐จ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ
1. Participation in the Search for Bโya te JAS is grounded in community legitimacy. Each barangay of Jose Abad Santos may nominate one woman candidate, ensuring equitable representation across all twenty-six (26) barangays of the municipality.
2. In case there are three ICCs present in the barangay, the IPMR shall have the discretion who must be sent. However, the tribes of the representatives should be sent in an alternate manner.
3. Candidates must be Indigenous women belonging to recognized Indigenous Cultural Communities such as the Manobo, Sangil or Blaan. They may not be purely Indigenous, provided that they possess at least twenty-five percent (25%) Indigenous bloodline.
4. ๐ป๐๐ ๐๐๐๐
๐๐
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.
5. Residency may be established either by actual residence or domicile.
6. Candidates must be 16 years old and must not be over 24 years old.
7. Candidates are expected to be women of good moral standing, actively engaged in community life, leadership, cultural work, advocacy, or Indigenous governance. What is valued is not prominence or popularity, but credibility, integrity, and lived service.
8. ๐ป๐ฏ๐ฌ๐น๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐บ ๐ถ๐ต๐ณ๐ ๐ถ๐ต๐ฌ ๐จ๐ป๐ป๐ฐ๐น๐ฌ ๐น๐ฌ๐ธ๐ผ๐ฐ๐น๐ฌ๐ซ - ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐๐๐. No more gowns, swimsuits, talent, and other components.
9. They are to be judged by their wit and intelligence, and advocacy on cultural preservation and Indigenous women empowerment.
๐พ๐ค๐ข๐ฅ๐ค๐จ๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ค๐ก๐ ๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐
๐ช๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฝ๐ค๐๐ฎ
1. Judgment in the Search for Bโya te JAS is vested in twenty-six (26) Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representatives (IPMRs)โone from each barangay of Jose Abad Santos. This structure ensures that assessment is decentralized, community-based, and culturally grounded.
2. The equivalent to Chairman of the Board of Judges, consistent with the Indigenous Cultural Communityโs Political Structure is the Municipal Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative.
3. Judges are expected to exercise their role guided by Indigenous values, RA 8371, customary laws, and collective responsibility. The judging process is an act of cultural discernment rather than competition, aimed at identifying a woman who genuinely embodies Indigenous leadership.
๐๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ค๐๐๐จ๐จ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐พ๐ช๐ก๐ฉ๐ช๐ง๐๐ก ๐๐ซ๐๐ก๐ช๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ
1. Candidates are nominated through their barangays, with the endorsement of recognized Indigenous leaders, Punong Barangay, councils, or organizations. A screening process ensures compliance with eligibility requirements in a manner respectful of Indigenous customs and legal standards.
2. During the search, candidates will share their leadership journey, their understanding of Indigenous womenโs roles, their knowledge of IPRA and IKSPs, and their lived interpretation of Kรฉpiyaan. Emphasis is placed on narrative, reflection, and authenticity rather than performance.
3. There will be no paper-for-tabulation, rather, a majority vote will be basis to award the following titles and prizes:
โข Bโya te JAS (Ancestral Domain) - P15,000
โข Bโya te Kultura (Cultural Preservation) - P10,000
โข Bโya te Turismo (Eco-Tourism) - P10,000
๐พ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ผ ๐๐๐ ๐
๐๐ฟ๐๐๐๐ (๐๐๐๐ข๐๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ค๐๐ช๐จ)
โข Indigenous Leadership and Community Service
โข Knowledge of IPRA and Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices (IKSP)
โข Embodiment of Kรฉpiyaan Values
โข Indigenous Identity, Character, and Presence
โข Ancestral Domain
โข Intergenerational Responsibility
Watch as our candidates showcase not only their grace and confidence, but also their deep connection to our heritageโspeaking fluently in their native language as a reflection of our rich identity and traditions.
For further details and inquiries, you may contact Mr. Dansoy through Messenger, https://www.facebook.com/datu.didaya # or visit the Municipal Tourism Office, Ground Floor, Municipal Building.
Join us in honoring the empowered women who embody the spirit of Jose Abad Santos!
