Spearheaded by the Villar Foundation Las Piñas City celebrated its 18th Waterlily Festival, reaffirming its continued commitmen to environ-mental stewardship,sustainable deve­ lopment, and community empowerment.

A Festival Born from Purpose

Launched in 2005 under the

Sagip Blog program led by former Senator Cynthia Villar, the festival began as an effort to rehabilitate the Las Piñas and Zapote Rivers and address the water hyacinth problem. Since then, it has evolved into a vibrant celebration of local creativity

Turning Problem into Craft

Beyond ecological restoration. it has spurred the growth of barangay-based livelihood enterprises. Dried, dyed, and woven into handicrafts, harvested water lilies provide livelihood that uplift and empower local communities. With its own rivers now free of overgrowth. Las Piñas continues its craft by sourcing water lilies from neighboring cities, turning what was once a problem into a symbol of creativity and sustainable enterprise.

Rehabilitating the River System

The Festival supports the collective efforts of Las Piñas residents in rehabilitating the Las Piñas-Zapote River through the Sagip Blog Program of the Villar Foundation which has significantly contributed to improving the river's condition.

Activities such as clean-up Now in its 18th year, the was the Saga Kabalaan environmental challenges into drives, debris and waste removal, Las Piñas Waterlily Festival Para sa Kalikasan" dance opportunities for creativity, dredging, and the construction of highlighted the Ms. Waterlily video competition, which drew sustainable livelihood, and retaining walls along the 2025 Pageant, where enthusiastic participation from community pride. The festival riverbanks have helped restore contestants proudly wore the youth. Performers symbolizes ingenuity, resilience, the river's natural flow. These gowns made entirely from dried creatively integrated waterlilies and collective action-turning initiatives have led to more and woven waterlilies into their dance routines, the once-troublesome waterlily efficient water movement, demonstrating both promoting environmental into a proud emblem of reduced flooding risks, and a craftsmanship and sustainable consciousness through art and environmental stewardship and healthier river ecosystem overall.

The success of the Sagig Ilog Program-recognized by the United Nations with the 'Best Practices Award' in 2011-serves as a powerful testament to the impact of community involvement in environmental conservation and sustainable river management.

Festival Highlights

Now in its 18th year, the Las Piñas Waterlily Festival highlighted the Ms. Waterlily 2025 Pageant, where contestants proudly wore gowns made entirely from dried and woven waterlilies-demonstrating both craftmanship and sustainable fashion.

Judging criteria include beauty, intellegence and creative design. Winners recieve cash prizes: ₱30,000 for the Grand Winner, ₱20,000 for the First Runner-Up, and ₱10,000 for the Second Runner-Up, along with thropies and shashes. An award is also given to the Best Designer during the ceremony.

Another festival highlight was the "Sayaw Kabataan Para sa Kalikasan" dance video competition, which drew enthusiastic participation from the youth. Performers creatively integrated waterlilies into their dance routines, promoting environmental consciousness through art and movement.

Entries were judged based on creativity, choreograph, messaging, and originality. Winners recieved cash prizes and trophies: ₱30,000 for the Grand Prize, ₱20,000 for the First Runner-Up, and ₱10,000 for the Second Runner-Up. Special awards for Best Costume & People's Choice were also presented to deserving youth groups.

Senators Mark and Camille Villar, who both spearheaded this year's event, pledged to the continue hosting tthe festival for the people of Las Piñas, while remaining steadfast in their commitment to environmental protection and the promotion of sustainable livelihoods for their kababayans.

The event not only entertained but also powerfully reinforced the festival's core message: transforming environmental challenges into opportunities for creativity, sustainable livelihood, and community pride. The festival symbolize ingenuity, resilience, and collective action-turning the once-troublesome waterlily into a proud emblem of environmental stewardship and local unity.

"Sayaw Kabataan Para sa Kalikasan"

MS. WATERLILY 2025 CANDIDATES