TOP hotels and resorts in Davao city had all been in a bout, whipping up various promotions and activities to highlight the most festive time of the year -- the Kadayawan sa Dabaw.
The past weekend, the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao celebrated the 31st Kadayawan Festival with a new wave of creations.
It wasn't Kadayawan without a well-arranged themed lobby exhibit.
Highlighting two icons of Davao - the Durian and the Waling-Waling - the exhibit presented an abundance of fruits and variations of orchids.
Festooned with native decorations such as wooden pallets, hand-woven mats and t'nalak, a woven furniture was also in place where guests could sit and have their photos taken.
Adding a twist to their regular Filipino Themed Lunch Buffet, Executive Chef Victor Barangan took in some local cuisine with main courses including Adobong Bihod at Bagaybay, Pantat with Black Beans, Squid Ink Ravioli with Kare Kasuy and Chili Crab. Spotted among their desserts are Taho, Binignit and one of their crowned specialties, Durian Brazo. For the first time since, the hotel also featured a wide spread of exotic, seasonal fruits in a stand. With locally grown varieties of Durian, Mangosteen, Marang, Rambutan and Lanzones sold at local market rates, hotel guests could simply stop by for a treat and enjoy the view of the Davao Gulf and the hotel's beautiful landscape.
Another one for the books is their Catch and Dine promo: a Kadayawan Pokemon Craze. With everyone being hooked on the latest and recently made popular Nintendo mobile app, Pokemon Go, guests were given an on-property discount on dining and even free passes at the Pool Aquarius for a minimum required number of Pokemons caught in a day within the hotel premise.
While it is customary to feature live cultural performances at this time, it was taken up a notch as everyone witnessed one from an authentic indigenous family of Lumads descending from the Matigsalug tribe.
The Matigsalugs, or 'People of the Salug River', is one of the Lumad communities in the metropolis and one of the reasons why the annual Kadayawan festival is celebrated. The cultural presentations encouraged the guests to interact with the performers, and in the process helped them get to know more of the rich culture and heritage of the city.
Prior to the Kadayawan festivities, the hotel also sponsored the official pre-event activities of the Hiyas sa Kadayawan 2016 on August 17.
Hiyas sa Kadayawan or 'Gem of Kadayawan' is a celebration of the 11 indigenous tribes of Davao in an evening of cultural presentations that commenced on August 19, Friday, and is one of the highlights of the festival.