AMID positive feedback that Davao City has received after it was launched last August, the Kadayawan Tribal Village was reopened again on Monday, October 30, to further promote cultural understanding and tradition of the 11 tribes of the city.
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, in her message delivered by Museo Dabawenyo administrative officer Orly Escarilla, congratulated the people behind the success of the previous staging of the tribal village that generated overwhelming interest from the public including the deputy mayors, members of the 11 tribes as well as the Davao City Tourism Operators Office (CTOO) last Kadayawan 2017.
"This cultural village was one of the new highlights of Kadayawan, allowing hundreds of visitors and locals alike to get a glimpse of the cultures and traditions of the tribes of Davao City, educating us all on the diversity of the Muslims and Lumads of Davao," the mayor said.
The tribal village manifests the unity of various characters of the city as it is composed of various tribes with the prevailing respect for each other's diversity, uniqueness, ideology, beliefs and way of life.
"This Kadayawan Village encapsulates what our city is – a melting pot of various cultures and colors all living in one community recognizing the similarities between the tribes when celebrating the unique identity of each one," she said.
The city's 11 tribes are Klata, Ata, Ubo Manuvo, Matigsalog, Tagabawa, Taosug, Maguindanaon, Iranun, Kagan, Maranao, and Sama.
She invited the public to visit the tribal village inside Magsaysay Park and see for themselves what the city could offer, witness how these tribes' live and discover their rich culture.
"I invite all our guests and visitors to support our ethno-linguistic groups by visiting the village, by buying their products and handicrafts and most of all by respecting their history and culture," she said.
She hopes that the reopening will pave way to forging better understanding and cultural harmony among all Muslim, Lumad and Christian residents of the city and visitors as well. She also desired that this will serve as inspiration for everyone in treasuring the heritage of the city.
CTOO head Generose Tecson, in an interview, said that each tribal mayor has designated a certain tribal member who has adequate knowledge on their culture to man their tribal houses and accommodate visitors and educate them on their culture.
According to her, she and the deputy mayors were surprised on the public's reception on the tribal village.
Tecson said they are eyeing to conduct training on basic business skills for the tribal members to equip them with the needed knowledge to help them in their livelihood.
"We want them to have that para marunong sila na mag-account for whatever they have there, pati bookkeeping nila kasi later on, hihingi tayo ng livelihood assistance from mayor para kung ano ang napag-isipan na livelihood nila matutuloy nila," Tecson said, adding that they also sought assistance from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts for the training of these tribal members on cultural presentations.
"Kung sino man ang interested, they can put up their own performing group so the city does not have to hire from anywhere else but sila mismo," Tecson said.