Kadayawan to still be staged online in 2021

File photo
File photo

FOLLOWING the prohibition of all government face-to-face events and activities due to the surge in cases in Davao City, the 36th celebration of the Kadayawan Festival will still be online in 2021.

Davao City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) Head Generose Tecson confirmed in a SunStar Davao interview on Thursday afternoon, May 27, that this will be the second year the Kadayawan will be done virtually.

"We had hoped na pwedeng (that we can do it) hybrid, but the way we're going now na mukhang magkaka-surge (because of the possible surge), we have to scrap that idea and go back nalang muna na (instead for the meantime to) online celebration," Tecson said in a phone interview.

The CTOO referred to "hybrid" celebration as a mix of live and online activities.

This comes after Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio issued Executive Order (EO) No. 31 on Monday, May 24, prohibiting all face-to-face non-essential events of all local and national government offices events and activities effective May 26 to August 31, 2021.

According to the EO, among the banned government events are inauguration, anniversary, thanksgiving, ribbon-cutting, blessing, turnover, groundbreaking activity, launching program, salo-salo, birthday, press conference, oath-taking program, photo opportunity, retirement honors, welcome honors, testimonial program, summer outing, and all other similar activities. All these events are allowed online.

Tecson said they already started their planning stage as early as February this year. She said they have not yet set definite activities that will be lined up this year.

The official added they also considered the Covid-19 situation in the city. The celebration could have gone hybrid if the active cases continued to go downwards.

Tecson, however, said the essence of the festivity, which will highlight the 11 tribes of the city and their cultures, will still be there.

"I think this is the best time to be able to explain kung ano 'yung mga suot ng tribe (the attire of our tribes)," she said.

She also assured that the online celebration will still have an impact not only on the Dabawenyos but also on other people since the festival will have a wider reach.

Tecson admitted they were sad that this year's celebration did not push through due to the pandemic. She said they will save it for next year, with the hope that things will be back to normal.

The official said they are optimistic that the tourism industry, particularly the meetings, incentives, conferencing, exhibitions (Mice) can gradually recover next year, especially with the ongoing vaccine rollout in the city.

"We were saddened because we were hoping na ma-OK ang tanan, magha-hybrid na sana. 'Yung Mice sana, itutuloy natin ngayong October [this year] (that everything will be OK this year, and we could go hybrid. We were also targeting to push through with the Mice events this October)," she said.

She also reminded the public to impose self-discipline and continuously observe minimum health protocols.

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