THE 11 tribes, the burst of colors, the beating of the drums, the synchronized dancing, the cheers, the street revelry. Kadayawan. It's one of the most awaited events in Davao.
In the middle of the pandemic, how do we celebrate the Kadayawan this year?
Five months into the lockdown, the city has relaxed its regulations to allow the economy to pick up, but not without strict implementation of health protocols. Small group gatherings with social distancing are now allowed but that's not how festivals are meant to be celebrated. Kadayawan 2020 had to be cancelled.
However, the spirit of the festival continues. The City Government and the private sector ingeniously came up with an online celebration. It revisits the past Kadayawan festivals and invites all to take part.
There are also other events that can't be stopped. No matter the circumstance, it will happen, it will thrive. At this time of the year the Mt. Apo will reveal its majesty at its clearest, the Waling-Waling will parade blooms in vibrant hues and the fruits in season will flood the city streets.
Visual artist Robin Castillo celebrates the Kadayawan on this one-man online exhibit. In his latest art collection, the 34-year-old street artist captures what's on the street and what could have been on it during this festival month.
Castillo is perennially in search of fleeting scenes to freeze on paper or canvas. He is known for his everyday people paintings. Taking long walks around the city is his regular routine. Once subjects of interest are spotted, he finds a secluded corner to work. With quick strokes of his watercolor-tainted brush, he seizes moving pictures and immortalizes them on paper.
Another impressive dimension about Castillo is he prefers to work with four color palates only -- blue, red, yellow and burnt sienna.
In this collection, Castillo shares in his artwork what thrives during the Covid-19-affected Kadayawan -- the street vendors selling lanzones, durian, mangosteen, the flower market and the blooms of the season, even a girl with an orchid on her hair.
What we will miss on the streets this month, Castillo adds to this collection. He refers to his memories of the past Kadayawans and brings it to the present -- the joy-filled faces of children of the tribes parading with fruits and flowers, a tribeswoman with blooms.
The 2020 street festivity may be off the calendar, but we have Apo Duwaling -- Mt. Apo, the durian and more fruits, the Waling-Waling blooming among other flowers. We have all these during this uncertain time. We do have a reason to celebrate.
For more of Robin Castillo's artworks with corresponding prices, visit http://ofapplesandlemons.com/2020/08/kadayawan-x-robin-castillo-a-one-man-online-exhibit/
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