PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III has declared August 19, 2011 as a special non-working day in Davao City in celebration of the annual festivity called “Kadayawan Festival.”
By virtue of Proclamation 215, the President declared August 19 which falls on Friday as a special non-working holiday in the city upon the request of the City Government to enable the people to participate in the event.
“It is but fitting and proper that the people of the City of Davao be given full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies,” the proclamation, signed on August 4, 2011, said.
The Kadayawan Festival is an annual festival in Davao City in the
Philippines. Its name derives from the friendly greeting "Madayaw", from the Dabawenyo word "dayaw", meaning good, valuable, superior or beautiful.
The week-long festival, dubbed "Mother of All Philippine Festivals", is held every third week of August.
The Kadayawan Festival showcases the beauty and the diverse culture and tradition of the Dabawenyos (or the people of Davao).
Davao City is home to at least 10 major indigenous tribes in the country including the "Lumads" like the Bagobos, Manobos, Mandayas, Mansakas, Matigsalogs, and Tbolis. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)