The man behind this year's festival
Aurea A. Gerundio
SUPERVISING the Kadayawan festivities is one big task that require a leader who can direct everything that's going on, especially on this 20th Kadayawan Festival when just about every facet of Davao is being celebrated -- indigenous and contemporary culture, arts, music, agriculture, food, games, nature, trade and development.
But for this year's Kadayawan sa Dabaw Foundation Inc. (KSDFI) president Arnold D. Navales, planning the events in the Kadayawan festivities was not so difficult to handle.
Navales said most of the events included in this year's celebration have been introduced in the past celebrations already and thus they now have some working system they are merely following.
"Every year, the Kadayawan Foundation is just innovating most of the events in the previous Kadayawan festivities. Nagdadagdag na lang ng mga events," Navales said.
Navales said Davao City is rich with indigenous traditions that could be revisited in various ways.
"The theme Subay, Sulay sa Buhing Kabilin, which means to trace and try the living heritage, imply that the Dabawenyos have their existence a long time ago and here were are looking for their lost culture, arts and tradition and live with it. It is through a celebration of bountiful harvest that we can experience it," Navales said.
Navales attributes his ability to head the KSDFI to his inclination toward arts and culture.
When he was president of the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountant (Picpa) Davao Chapter in 2000, he said, he had organized several cultural presentations during assemblies.
Navales, who is presently the manager of the Systems and Internal Audit Department of the Davao City Water District (DCWD), said his inclination to arts and culture somewhat convinced the DCWD Board to choose him to represent the company to the KSDFI.
Navales refuses to claim all the credit for the activities in the Kadayawan celebration saying the success of the celebration is the product of a group effort.
Navales said the ample support from other KSDFI officials including Chair Susan Durano, Vice Chair Oscar Casaysay, Vice President Sylvia Alegria, Secretary Precy Sacriz, Auditor Ricardo Aguilar and other members of the board, City Tourism Officer Id Acaylar and Councilor Susan Isabel Reta has greatly helped in coming up with a very festive Kadayawan.
Navales did not miss the support from the business sector as well for he financial support.
Navales is thankful also for the support of Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte especially in making sure that the Kadayawan festivities will go on as peaceful as possible.
"The City Government gave P700,000 financial assistance pero hindi namin tinanggap kasi gusto naming na ang pera ay gamitin na lang para sa pagkain,
panggasolina at iba pang kailangan ng police na magbabantay ng seguridad ng mga tao during the entire Kadayawan celebration," Navales said.
As Navales will turn over his position to the next president of the KSDFI next year, he looks forward as well to seeing a more vibrant and festive Kadayawan.
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