It’s been four years since I first went to Davao for bleisure. I’ve always admired the province’s rich culture, which the locals highlighted with every chance they get. Although I went in August then, I didn’t get the opportunity to experience Davao’s Kadayawan Festival.
Davao is known as the King City of the South, Mindanao’s Crown Jewel, and the Fruit Basket of the Philippines, among others. Despite several festivals and celebrations highlighting its diverse culture, its Kadayawan Festival takes the cake.
This year, I got the chance to witness the province’s highly-anticipated festival firsthand. The best part about it is that after two years of holding the Kadayawan Festival online, the local government unit, under the leadership of Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, decided to bring the festival back to the streets of Davao.
Since it was the first festival across the country held physically, the Davao LGU and the Department of Tourism (DOT) Regional Office XI worked hand-in-hand to promote the event to ensure everyone enjoyed the festival.
DOT XI regional director Tanya Rabat Tan was ecstatic to see the Dabawenyos and members of the tribes enjoying the festivities as they braved the tropical heat and adhered to strict health protocols.
“It’s [really] good that we’re having this face-to-face now. You can [really] feel the Kadayawan vibe. The festival is spearheaded by the LGU of Davao. We are supporting in terms of promoting the festival,” she said.
Dabawenyos celebrate Kadayawan as a thanksgiving event for nature’s blessings, rich cultures, bountiful harvests, and peace. It also pays tribute to the region’s 11 indigenous and Moro tribes. The word “Kadayawan” comes from the Dabawenyo greeting “Madayaw,” from the word “dayaw,” meaning good, valuable, superior, or beautiful.
The 37th Kadayawan Festival lasted for several days, with various events happening across the city. Our group, composed of several lifestyle writers and vloggers, went on the last three days, from August 19 to 21. On the first day, we, among other Dabawenyos, flocked to the People’s Park to witness the 11 tribes participate in Dula Kadayawan, a showcase of indigenous games to raise awareness about the culture of the indigenous and Moro communities in the region.
By the time our group arrived at the park, we had seen two tribes battling each other in a game of tug-of-war. My favorite, on the other hand, was the Sipa Mangis. Participants kicked a ball upwards to hit several balls in a hanging pyramid. The tribe that kicked the most balls down and scored the highest points wins. It was refreshing to see because the tribe members thoroughly enjoyed the games. They encouraged, consoled, and supported each other no matter the outcome of the games.
On the second day, our group observed the Indak Indak sa Kadayawan from a good vantage point. The event is an annual street dancing competition where participants take to the streets to give a lively performance that interprets a story, legend, myth, or tradition based on the lives of Davao’s 11 indigenous and Moro tribes. Aside from their performance along the city streets, participants also battled it out for a grand showdown at San Pedro Square.
Participants, Davao-based and hailing from other parts of Mindanao, clearly missed the adrenaline of performing for a crowd. Aside from their well-prepared costumes, props, and choreography, their energy was compelling as they kept the crowd engaged throughout their presentations.
Yet the festivities didn’t end there. We traveled to the Kadayawan Tribal Village in Magsaysay Park in the afternoon to get a firsthand glimpse of the culture of the tribes, from their housing, clothing, food, accessories, lifestyle, and more. It was a humbling experience to see the rich heritage of the tribes and even more so when they invited us to try it for ourselves.
The Kadayawan Tribal Village is among the significant locations during the Kadayawan Festival. The Davao LGU fast-tracked its renovation to coincide with its reopening last August 5. However, bringing back old traditions wasn’t the only surprise the LGU had in store for the guests at the festival.
For the first time, the Kadayawan Festival welcomed a new musical competition: the Agong Kulintangan. The contest features the region’s musical instruments, such as a large hanging kettle gong called the agong and a row of small gongs called kulintang.
Seven groups representing some of the 11 tribes gave spellbinding performances. Cash prize aside, they gave it their all to showcase how their community values music. They incorporated songs, stories, and choreography to make their presentation more compelling. Moreover, the groups also featured members of different ages, from young to old, and how they uphold their musical heritage.
By its last day, the 37th Kadayawan Festival ended with a grand floral float parade called Pamulak sa Dalan. Besides the floral elements, participants, ranging from private to public individuals and organizations, added their flair to their floats. Many added symbols of Davao, while others embellished theirs with designs particular to their organizations, and several incorporating music or featured known celebrities to become more distinct.
One thing’s for sure, the people in Davao reveled in the Kadayawan Festival’s return to the physical world.
Throughout our three-day visit, we stayed at the Royal Mandaya Hotel. We also visited other tourist sites, including the Davao City Library and Information Center, Poblacion Public Market, and Davao Crocodile Park.
Our tummies were also satisfied thanks to our stops at Hilltop View Deck and Life Cycle Coffee, Marina Tuna Seafood Restaurant, Balik Bukid Farm and Kitchen, and Eden Nature Park and Resort, completing our experience of Davao.
With the Kadayawan Festival marking Davao’s openness to welcoming tourists again, the LGU and its stakeholders are intensifying their efforts to ensure that the region remains a prime tourist destination.
On August 24, Cebu Pacific Air increased its flight frequency between Davao and Zamboanga from five to seven times weekly. The airline currently flies eight times daily from Manila to Davao, three times daily from Davao to Cebu, three times weekly from Davao to Bohol (every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday), and daily from Davao to Iloilo.
The airline continues to offer its guaranteed low fares to stimulate travel across its broadest domestic network and implements a multi-layered approach to safety.
Visit www.cebupacificair.com for more information.