THAT this year's theme of Kadayawan sa Dabaw Festival is barely intelligible to a good number of Dabawenyos underscore one thing: there is a lot that even Dabawenyos do not know about Davao.
The city being a city of migrants and lumads have long coexisted with the common pride of the city that they call home.
But for so long, the focus was on the fertility of Davao's soil, and yes, it's durian, mangosteen, pomelo, Philippine eagle, and lush environment. The people, the real Dabawenyos, the lumads, are just the background for all these.
And thus the theme: Musanay Lumadnong Kagikan, Yutang Kabilin Panalipdan! (Flourishing Indigenous Heritage, Protecting Ancestral Nations).
Yes, Davao, for all its young history is steeped with culture and arts. While the city's official age, historical landmarks, colonial architecture and arts cannot hold a candle to that of the centuries old Manila and Cebu, Davao City nurtures in its bosom a large group of indigenous peoples who have held on to their culture and beliefs; culture and beliefs that are rooted on the land -- the soil they till and from where most of their dances, music, and practices revolve.
Their very core of existence is land, and thus, if we take away their ancestral land, their culture and traditions will be lost.
This year's celebration has two main components:
Lumadnong Kasaulogan (Indigenous Peoples Festival) - showcasing our indigenous peoples' culture and arts, which is the core of the whole festival.
Subay sa Lumadnong Kagikan (Contemporary Indigenous-motivated Celebrations) - showcases the impact of the indigenous culture and traditions to contemporary artists and communities.
This year's theme, and the direction that Kadayawan is being led to, is thus a declaration to preserve what is really Davao, as well as to highlight our hometown's indigenous peoples, who for the longest time has been swept to the sidelines, unseen, unheard, unappreciated.
We thus invite all Dabawenyos (lumad and settlers alike) and their visitors to see not just the malls, the agro-industrial fair, the floats and the indak-indak, but to experience the indigenous and fusion of cultures because this is what makes Davao unique. You can start your first taste at the Osme¤a Park beside the City Council building starting Monday.
