THE Kadayawan committee promised it will be a more festive year for the most celebrated event in Davao City. The news was shared at the recent media launch at Marco Polo Davao.
“The Martial Law did not stop us from celebrating Kadayawan last year, and we even had more visitors. We are optimistic to have more visitors this year,” said festival director, Gatchi Gatchalian, adding that festival’s security is still on top of the priorities.
“We made it known how secured and safe Davao was. We beat the odds. People came and marveled at the festive atmosphere of peace and camaraderie. One foreign tourist who visited the Tribal Village asked ‘This is Martial Law?’,” said City Tourism Operations Officer GeneRose Tecson. She shared that last year’s tourism arrival for Kadayawan was at 175,000 and they are targeting 200,000 arrivals this 2018.
That aside, the city is pumped up and amplifying the fun and gaiety with a line-up of events both tried and tested and new. And to accommodate the list, the Kadayawan ceremony is happening a week early, on August 10, at Magsaysay Park.
Aside from the major Kadayawan highlights – Indak-Indak sa Kadayawan Street Dancing Competition (with a higher prize money at stake), Pamulak Float Parade and Hiyas sa Kadayawan – the festival will hold another installment of other successful events: the Habi Kadayawan Fashion Accessories Design Competition, Pitik Kadayawan Drumbeating Contest, Mugna Kadayawan Doodling Contest, Dragon Boat Festival, Sayaw Kadayawan, Tunog Kadayawan Song Writing Competition and the Kadayawan Village.
Launching this year are events that will add more flavor and color to the already exciting event. The Pananam Food Hall will be opened at the Magsaysay Park after the opening ceremonies on August 10. This will serve as the venue to showcase the 11 tribe’s delicacies – a great way to cap the cultural Kadayawan Walking Tour.
Tribal details have made it to everyday fashion and it is becoming trendy. Kadayawan Ball, the new fashion design competition, will put the local designers to a test and will see how they incorporate the details into contemporary wearable fashion for men and women.
In another niche, the cosplayers will have a grand time with Kosplay Kadayawan. It’s a chance for them to showcase their creativity in this line of fashion with the Philippine Eagle as inspiration.
Today’s Kadayawan Festival is also geared on engaging the festival revelers in the fun, encouraging them to participate on the activities. More than witnessing and documenting the festival, they can now be part of the events. Guests can join and play with the tribal athletes in the Dula Kadayawan Tribal Games and, if in costume, hop on the float during the “Pamulak Kadayawan Experiential Ride”.
Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio had this wonderful messaged she shared, “Kadayawan serves as a reminder for us to always go back to our roots and to our history – a reminder that our journey to where we are today as a city is founded on the virtues of respect, tolerance, acceptance, and solidarity.”
By the sound of it, this is going to be a more exciting festival indeed. Mark your calendars and be where you want to be on Kadayawan week. Have fun!
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