Friday, August 10, 2007 2007 Kadayawan fest kicks off By Grace L. Plata
THE 2007 Kadayawan sa Dabaw festival is finally open and if its grandiose opening is any indication of how the festival will go this year, then the organizers are assured of success.
The 22nd Kadayawan Festival kicked off Wednesday with a Holy Mass followed by the formal opening program at the Quezon Park fronting the City Hall building.
The event, attended by the city's officials led by Vice-Mayor Sara Z. Duterte and leaders in the city's business sector, was indeed a kaleidoscope of cultural colors as the eight major indigenous tribes of the city staged excerpts of their cultural celebrations to be presented within eight consecutive days (August 10 to 17) at the Rizal Park - one whole day for each of the eight tribes.
Representatives from each of the eight tribes -- Tagabawa, Ovu-Manobo, K'lagan, Tausug, Sama, Maguindanao, Maranao, Ata -- who are this year's Hiyas ng Kadayawan candidates, were also presented to the public.
City Administrator Wendel E. Avisado, co-chair of the festival for the government sector, said this is the time when the festival is back to its indigenous roots, when the participants and performances are authentic.
Councilors, for the very first time, were not mere spectators but also took part in the program.
Councilors Myrna Dadolo-Ortiz, Amilbangsa Manding, Edgar Ibuyan, Karlo Bello, Rachel Zozobrado, Samuel Bangoy, Louie John Bonguyan, Susan Isabel Reta, and Tomas Monteverde IV each take turns narrating the celebration's history and significance.
The opening ceremonies proved faithful to this year's theme, "Lumadnong Kagikan, Mabungahong Kinaiyahan, Gasa sa Kahitas-an."
