FROM the shaky beginnings as Visit Davao Fun Sale, the summer funfare in Davao has finally evolved to become the Visit Davao Summer Festival (VDSF) and promises to be the longest and widest festival stretching from April 15 to June 30, with a lot of artistic and cultural component thrown in.
Starting it off the artistic thread to the festival is the Mugnasaya sa Abreeza Doodle Competition at the ground floor of the Restaurant Row (in front of S&R) in Abreeza from April 19-20.
This one requires some preparation for those who want to compete.
While it is an on-the-spot doodling competition sponsored by Abreeza Ayala Mall in coordination with Alampat Productions and VDSF execom, those who want to join are required to first submit to alampatproductions@gmail.com studies or illustrations based on the competition theme "Doodling Summer Saya sa Abreeza" together with the entry form and photo of a valid ID.
From the submitted studies, the finalists will be chosen and notified. Only the finalists will be competing in the competition on April 19, 2018.
Finalists will be announced on April 15, notifications will be sent through email and SMS There will be 20 doodle walls, ten for professional and ten for student categories.
Contestants will be made to render on a wall 8ft by 4 fit. Participants must bring their own tools (pencils, brushes, rags and water containers). Each entry will be made by two members.
All doodles will become the property of Abreeza Mall.
Prizes are: P15,000 and a certificate for first prize professional, and P10,000 and certificate for second prize. For student category, first prise is P10,000 and a certificate, while second prize is P5,000 and a certificate. All participants will receive a certificate.
Judging and awarding will be in the afternoon of April 20.
On May 2 is the opening of the National Heritage Month at 6 to 8 p.m. of May 2 at the SM City Annex that will be graced by National Commission on Culture and the Arts chair Virgilio Almario and executive director Rico S. Pableo, Jr. It will be a program highlighting the heritage of Davao, NCCA National Commission for Music Southern Mindanao representative Maree Cantaoi-Cayas said during last Tuesday's Art Talk at the RBG Restaurant of Park Inn by Radisson.
On May 7-8 at the second floor of Abreeza Mall (beside Wrangler), will be the "Ugnayan: Artistic Impression of Mindanao Life - An Art Exhibition of Select Visual Artists of Davao City and the rest of Southern Mindanao."
It will present an array of artworks on 18"x36" canvases by different artists all rendering their ideas of Mindanao Life.
The Lumadnong Pagsaulog will be held on May 26 at the People's Park from 6-10 p.m. and will feature the indigenous groups of the KadayawanVillage and the Kaliwat Artist Collective.
While capping the art and cultural activities for VDSF is the Tambayayong Dabawenyo, a free concert featuring Davao bands: Mad God and the Blues Driver, Nairud, aPopong Landero ug mga Igso, and Naughty Notes.
Indeed, this year's VDFS promises to not just be fun-filled but colorful as well.