Kadayawan: A Herald of Beauty and Good Life

Kadayawan: A Herald of Beauty and Good Life

 

Photo Credit: https://www.facebook.com/kadayawanfest/

KADAYAWAN SA DABAW is a festival of thanksgiving for bountiful harvest. It is a celebration of all things beautiful and valuable to the various tribes of Mindanao, such as the generous gift of life, the impeccable gifts of nature, the wealth of culture and the serenity of living.

Kadayawan Festival derives its name from the friendly greeting "Madayaw", from the Dabawenyo word "dayaw", meaning good, valuable, superior or beautiful. It started as a thanksgiving festival that celebrates the eleven (11) tribes of Davao City since time immemorial, giving thanks to their tribal gods.

In 1970, then Mayor Elias B. Lopez envisions to bring together Davao City’s different tribes through a showcase of their respective thanksgiving rituals and dances. Came 1986 when the festival is named "Apo Duwaling," a name created from the famous exemplifications of Davao: Mt. Apo, the country's highest peak; Durian, the king of fruits; and Waling-Waling, the queen of orchids.

The festival started to resemble the “Kadayawan sa Dabaw” of the present in 1988 by then City Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte. He then issued on 1995 the Executive Order No. 10 series of 1995 institutionalizing the celebration of Kadayawan Festival every third week of August every year.

In late 1990s, it was dubbed as the “Festival of Festivals,” - its previous label before the to-date famed title “King of Festivals.” From then on, it is considered as the largest and most magnificent celebration in Davao City.

Serving as a link between the past, present, and future, Kadayawan sa Dabaw is an exploration of Davao as an innovative and fast developing city, and Mindanao as a region rich in cultural and historical prestige.

The celebration embraces the three-fold aspect of tribal, industrial, and arts and entertainment. Pamulak sa Kadayawan, Indak-indak sa Kadayawan and several trade fairs and exhibits showcasing the island’s tourism, products and services are the highlights of the weeklong festival.

To this day, the festival continues to honor the city's richness and diverse artistic, cultural and historical heritage in a grandiose celebration of thanksgiving for all of Davao City's blessings. Take a peek with the weekend events during the 2018 Kadayawan sa Dabaw.

Pictures and Video by: Ryan Villodres