DAVAO CITY- After two years of hiatus, the staging of this year’s Kadayawan sa Davao Festival will be face-to-face.
The main festivities will be on the third week of August starting on August 15 with Misa Pasasalamat (Thanksgiving Mass) and Pag-ablisa Kadayawan (Opening Ceremomies), Hiyas ng Kadayawan on August 17 and the two iconic festivities the Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan (Street Dancing Competition) on August 20 and Pamulak sa Kadalanan (Floral Float Parade) on August 21.
Other activities include Sayaw Kadayawan on August 18, Dula Kadayawan (indigenous games) August 19. Bantawan or cultural performances at Magsaysay Park during the whole Kadayawan week. The opening of the tribal village at the Magsaysay Park will be on August 5.
During the media launch held on Friday (July 8) Mayor Sebastian Duterte exhorted Dabawenyos and visitors to celebrate the Kadayawan’s reopening.
“With the reopening of borders, we are inviting all of our friends across the globe to witness the festivities prepared by the City Government of Davao for the 37th Kadayawan Festival," Mayor Duterte said in his message which was read by Vice Mayor Melchor Quitain Jr.
Despite being a face-to-face event, the celebrations will still comply with the minimum health standards. The wearing of face masks is also required and will be integrated into the attire and costumes of the participants of the various activities.
City Administrator Atty. Francis Mark Layog said the planning of the 37th Kadayawan sa Davao Festival will include the necessary preparations taking into consideration the security and health aspects of holding a large face-to-face event. The City Health Office is part of the preparations alongside the City’s security cluster.
The business sector also hailed the return of the face-to-face Kadayawan. “This is the first national festival that is going face-to-face and it's going to be louder and prouder, especially for us, Dabawenyos," Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industries Inc. president Dr. Malou Monteverde said in her opening message at the media launch.
This year’s Kadayawan sa Davao will have the theme “Kasikas sa Kadayawan” which roughly translates to make noise and have fun.
The 2020 Kadayawan titled Kadayawan Digital Week was an online commemoration of the festival while the 2021 Kadayawan was a fully online event.
Kadayawan Festival traces its roots as a thanksgiving celebration of the city’s indigenous communities that metamorphosed into a vibrant festival highlighting Davao City’s 11 recognized ethno-linguistic groups and which draws massive number of tourists to Davao City. (PIA/RG Alama)
