This festival's origins are linked to the lumad of Kidapawan, North Cotabato province.
Back in the 1970s, the indigenous peoples of Cotabato began celebrating the Kalibongan Festival through the Mindanao Highlanders Association (Mindahila), fostering unity among the
indigenous peoples. From Kidapawan, the group requested to hold the tribal gathering in Davao City.
From then on, Kalibongan later transformed into the Apo Duwaling Festival, symbolizing Mount Apo, durian, and waling-waling orchid. On May 11, 1995, Duterte issued Executive Order No. 10, officially designating the Kadayawan as an annual festival, scheduled for the third week of August.
Over time, the event has grown in significance, becoming increasingly meaningful for indigenous groups (Islamized and Non Islamized) striving for recognition and a place within a settler-dominated society in Mindanao. The festival is dedicated to Davao's 11 ethnographic linguistic groups: Ata-Manobo, Matigsalog, Ovu-Manobo, Klata-Dyagan, Tagabawa, Iranun, Tausug, Maguindanaon, Maranao, Kagan, and Sama.
The Kadayawan Festival has made significant strides in providing recognition and space for Davao City's indigenous communities. One notable development was the establishment of the Kadayawan Tribal Village at Ramon Magsaysay Park in 2017, serving as a platform to showcase the cultures of the 11 ethnolinguistic tribes of the region.
The festival also features the Indak-indak sa Kadalan, an annual street dance competition that concludes at San Pedro Square in front of the Davao City Hall. The term "Indak-indak" means "to dance," while "kadalan" refers to the street.
Recently introduced is the Agong Kulintangan, a music competition highlighting instruments like the agong, a large hanging kettle gong, and the kulintang, a row of horizontally laid small gongs.
In line with the celebration of Kadayawan, I attended a soft launching of the art exhibit called Higayon: A Rebirth, last August 15, 2023. The exhibit was curated and hosted by TheBauHaus Gallery. Together with our friends, we witnessed the artworks of Mariano “Anoy” Catague, Joel Geolamen, and Jong Tangiday.
According to Jon Traya, “Higayon: A Rebirth is an attempt by TheBauhaus Gallery to traverse a new creative and philosophical journey. Higayon is a Visayan word describing the willingness to create opportunities or occasions of encounters and interactions.”
Similar to the goal of the Kadayawan Festival, "Higayon: A Rebirth" aims to foster an atmosphere of openness and self-consciousness. It seeks to free individuals from their rigid perspectives and encourage them to embrace the fluidity of the moment. It also serves as a welcoming call to engage in genuine and life-changing encounters, inviting Davaoenos to an authentic and transformative life experience. This year's Kadayawan is a festival of the senses!