DAVAO City is known to celebrate merrymaking and other festivities keeping in mind their roots and their ancestors. Kadayawan Festival, for example, is a celebration of the 11 tribes and the bountiful harvest of the city.
This Yuletide season, no one is left behind in the celebration. If before, many Indigenous People from different far-flung areas of the city, come and travel for hours to join the Christmas spirit here in downtown Davao, the case is different this year. The City Government of Davao brings Christmas to the homes of the Lumad wherever they are.
The Pasko sa Lumad is a series of Christmas treats by the City of Government of Davao to the IP communities in Marilog, Paquibato, and Baguio Districts starting December 7 to December 21. This is for them to avoid the inconvenience of travelling far just to feel celebrate. According to the City Information Office, there were 1,427 families who joined in the opening day. Out of this number 82 families were from Barangay Fatima, 91 from Barangay Sumimao, and 138 families from Barangay Callawa.
Pasko sa Lumad is made more exciting with different tribal games, dental and medical missions, and Balihudnoy or “makeover” for lumad women.
In a statement, City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO) Head Maria Luisa Bermudo said they also did this Pasko sa Lumad for the safety of the Lumad. In the past, when they come to the downtown area, they sometimes get sick. She mentioned there was even a time that a Lumad got involved in a car accident.
“Every day we will give them food packs. On the 4th day, there will be tribal games, animal consultation, dental, and medical check-ups and on the 10th day it will be the children’s day,” CSSDO Malabog coordinator Soccoro Ebordo said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the Bagobo-Tagabawa tribe in Sibulan also have their fair share of fun and celebration in their area. According to Sibulan Barangay Captain Christine Rose Abalayan, they will have a simple celebration in their barangay today, December 20. They will serve food for everyone, there will be parlor games, and a few prizes to be raffled to the attendees. The celebration will also be marked by the sounding of their agong, a symbol of their tribe’s celebration.
Aside from this, Abalayan also shared that they are scheduled to distribute 950 food packs to their residents. These food packs are given by the City Government of Davao. It contains grocery items such as rice, canned goods, spaghetti ingredients, and other Noche Buena items.