DAVAO City 1st District Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte extended his warm Kadayawan greetings to all Dabawenyos, emphasizing that the festival is more than a celebration of street dances, flowers, and harvests but a powerful expression of thanksgiving, cultural identity, unity, and the resilience of the city’s 11 Indigenous Peoples.
In his message, the first district congressman reminded residents and visitors alike that Kadayawan stands as a living testament to Davao’s rich heritage and the enduring spirit of a people who remain united despite challenges.
“Kadayawan is more than a festival. It is our way of saying thank you for the countless blessings that God has given our city. It’s a celebration of our culture, our unity, and the resilience of every Dabawenyo,” Duterte said.
He called on Dabawenyos to welcome guests by showcasing the values the city is known for—discipline, respect, peace and order, and genuine hospitality—while urging everyone to celebrate responsibly.
“Sa akong mga isigka-Dabawenyo, padayon lang ta sa pagtinabangay. Bisan unsa pa ang mga pagsulay, dili gyud mapildi ang usa ka lungsod nga nagkahiusa ug nagtinabangay,” he added.
Duterte also paid tribute to farmers, fisherfolk, workers, entrepreneurs, artists, cultural communities, city and barangay officials, uniformed personnel, volunteer groups and all those working behind the scenes, declaring that the festival belongs to them as the true strength of Davao.
He closed with a call for safe festivities: “Mag-amping ang tanan, enjoy the festivities with your families and friends, and let us celebrate responsibly.”
The spirit of thanksgiving and unity echoed at the official opening of the festival, where Vice President Sara Duterte joined the Thanksgiving Mass on Thursday, August 6.
The Vice President urged people to give thanks for their blessings and expressed hope that former President Rodrigo Duterte would join future celebrations, as the former Chief Executive misses celebrating Kadayawan with the people.
“Of course, he misses our fellow Dabawenyos and celebrating Kadayawan with them. But in our life, there are things that we need to do, and there are milestones we cannot always attend. Hopefully, next year or in the coming years, he will be able to join our Kadayawan celebration,” Vice President Duterte said.
She added that her recent visit to him at the International Criminal Court detention facility in The Hague showed he remains in good spirits despite some minor health concerns.
“He is very joyful whenever I visit him. He has not lost his sense of humor. There are some minor health issues, but thankfully, these are being addressed by the detention facility,” she said.
The Vice President said she was glad to mark the opening of the festival and she encouraged fellow Dabawenyos to celebrate with joy and gratitude.
This year’s month-long festival is the biggest yet, with 26 official activities lined up and aiming for thousands of tourist arrivals. More than P68 million has been allocated for the celebration, with higher cash prizes for the competitions. GRS
