Kadayawan Festival: A Celebration of Heritage, Culture, and a Bountiful Harvest

Davao City is known for a lot of things: the country’s highest peak in Mt. Apo, its transformation from a troubled city to a rapidly developing urban metropolis, the tribes that call it home, and the first Mindanawan president of the country, His Excellency Rodrido Duterte.

 

INDAK-INDAK SA KADALAN. One of the highlights of Kadayawan sa Dabaw Festival, held every third week of August.

 

It’s also known for its wildly colorful thanksgiving festival, known as the Kadayawan sa Dabaw Festival, held every third week of August.

Kadayawan sa Dabaw started as a festival that celebrated the many tribes of Davao City. It is a thanksgiving festival that has been celebrated since time immemorial, giving thanks to their tribal gods.

1970 saw a change in the festival as then Mayor Elias B. Lopez sought to bring together Davao City’s many tribes for a showcase of these thanksgiving rituals and dances. 1986 was when the festival started to resemble what we know today as the Kadayawan sa Dabaw, the name given by then-City Mayor Duterte in 1988. It was then called the Apo Duwaling Festival, named after Davao’s three most famous icons: Mt. Apo, Durian, and the Waling-Waling.

 

PAMULAK SA KADAYAWAN. A parade of flowers on floats also gets people in gear during the Kadayawan.

 

Kadayawan is highlighted by several events, including the Hiyas sa Kadayawan, a contest to find the most beautiful maiden among the city’s ten indigenous tribes. There’s also the Lumadnong events: Lumadnong Gama and Lumadnong Bantawan, both of which showcase the tribal people’s artifacts, wares, and performances.

Other highlights include the Indak-Indak sa Kadalan, the Pamulak sa Kadayawan, and the Hudyakaan sa Kadayawan, a three-week-long food and beverage market showcasing some of Davao City’s best in local cuisine.

There’s no official schedule as of today, but festivities should start sometime in August. Bookmark this page for the latest updates on the Kadayawan sa Dabaw Festival.

 

Source: Davao Tourism, Pinoy Adventurista

All photos courtesy of GinaD via Wikimedia Commons (Pamulak sa Kadayawan, Indak-Indak sa Kadalan)