“Diay suggestion is gapu ta Bodong Festival… inyebkas ko met ti request ti kakailyan nga mayat koma nu pang-IP ti Miss Kalinga. Mabalin nga sabali ti mapan nu pang-international pageant” - Kalinga BM

Tabuk City, Kalinga - After the suggestion of Board member Amla of waiving the height requirement for Miss Kalinga to accommodate other indigenous members of the community who do not have 5’4” height was taken out of context, he explained in an interview this January 7, 2026 that it is a suggestion not an enforced rule.

“Diay suggestion is gapu ta Bodong Festival… inyebkas ko lang met nga mayat koma nu pang-IP ti Miss Kalinga. Di bale met ta mabalin nga agpili ti sabali nga pang-international pageant. Ado gamin dagiti kayat na nga sumali nga nalalaing met ken napipintas nga kakailyan nga saan da naparaburan ti tayag… Kasanu met ngai ket iKalinga da met and this is Bodong Festival we are celebrating,” reasoned Amla.

The provincial legislator said the spirit of Bodong Festival is in the culture and identity as well as inclusivity.

“Kasanu tayon ngai nga inclusive nu adda met discrimination? Kaniak lang… nu kitan tayo ti dadduma nga ili nga IP nga pada tayo in-waive da ti height para iti c elebrasyon ti kultura ken kinatao. I was suggesting ta siyempre ado met ti mangibaga kaniak nga nu mabalin koma ket sabali koma met ti Miss Kalinga… pang Kalinga koma - kayat na sao-en inclusive ken accomodating. Ta nu adda sumali ti international pagents ket mabalin met nga mangpili kadagiti natatayag,” added BM Amla.

Amla mentioned as an example other iKalingas representing other provinces in Miss Universe Philippines like Miss Ghenesis Dalayday Latugat who represented Baguio in MUP 2022.

During the Kapehan sa Kapitol on January 5, 2026, while the discussions on Miss Kalinga was being held, Amla took the chance to voice out the queries and suggestions of some applicants who would like to join.

Nevertheless, Information Officer Dionica Legasi explained that the guidelines and rules and that the height requirement was 5’3” as the winner of the pageant will be the province’s representative for higher beauty contests. But said she will relay the message.

Amla said his suggestion was taken of context, but he believes that Bodong Festival activities should be inclusive and non-discriminatory for it is a celebration of culture and identity. But if it is a final decision, he said he just used his voice to talk for candidates who wished to join but couldn’t because of the height requirement.

“Diay lang met kaniak. Bodong Festival is for Kalingas ket ado kadagiti nalalaing ket napipintas ket saan umabot ti 5’4”. Ngem just the same taga-Kalinga da,” concluded BM Amla.

In a statement from Dr. Jun Beda Malecdan, he said that the Miss Kalinga Committee actually set the height requirement to 5'2".

Amla in response, welcomed the statement and said there is hope to those not height gifted.