KADAYAWAN SA DABAW

Mindanao’s Queen of All Festivals

Davao City is known for its royalty titles.

Mount Apo, which towers over the city, is called the king of the country’s mountains. Waling-waling, the endemic species that thrives in the forest of Mount Apo, is touted as the queen of orchids. Philippine eagle, the country’s icon, is the king of birds. Two fruits – durian and mangosteen – are bestowed the sobriquets king and queen of Philippine fruits, respectively.

Every August, the city also observes what spectators call as “The Queen of All Festivals in Mindanao” – the KadayawansaDabaw. It is Davao City’s thanksgiving for nature’s gifts, the wealth of culture, bountiful harvest, and peaceful living.

It is a month-long celebration, interfacing three aspects: tribal, industrial, and arts and entertainment; but the third week is the most anticipated as the weekend is highlighted with floral floats and streetdancing competitions. Throughout the month, there are exhibits that showcase the island’s tourism products and services.

Anciently, ethnic tribes like the Bagobos, Mandayas, Manobos, Mansakas and T’boli and others residing at the foot of Mount Apo would converge during a bountiful harvest. This ritual serves as their thanksgiving to the gods particularly to the “Manama” (the Supreme Being).Although times have changed, this practice of thanksgiving (pahinungod in local dialect) is still very much practiced by modern day Dabawenyos. This tradition flourished and evolved into an annual festival of thanksgiving. And that’s how KadayawansaDabaw came into existence.

“Ten tribes, One vibe.” That is the theme of the festival. Explains the Kadayawan Festival website: “Davao City has ten indigenous tribes, the Ata, Matigsalug, Ovu-Manuvo, Klata-Djangan, Tagabawa, Tausog, Maguindanao, Maranao, Kagan, and Sama. Though diverse in cultures, traditions and beliefs, these tribes are very much connected by a common origin that binds them together as one and the same – an origin that traces to the very core of the history of Davao City.”

One former festival coordinator sums up the festivity in these words: “Expect the HiyassaKadayawan candidates to showcase their rich indigenous culture and tradition, the Indak-IndaksaKadalanan contingents expressing celebration and merriment through choreographed and theatrical street dancing activities in the major thoroughfares in the city, and a parade of florally-dressed floats of various shapes and sizes showcasing the abundant harvest of fruits, flowers, and vegetables in Davao during the PamulakKadayawan.”

On August 17, Indak-IndaksaKadalanan will be held. The street dancing has two main components: A parade, which normally takes place in the morning; and the showdown, which is done from the afternoon until evening.

One pundit puts it: “The Indak-IndaksaKadalanan is wildly popular because of the distinctively Mindanaoan beat and costumes. Several tourists come to Davao to watch hundreds of people dancing with vigor in the streets, clad in their native attire and carrying extravagant props that would give Hollywood studios a serious run for their money.”

The PamulakKadayawan (August 18) is a sight to behold as it is patterned after the Pasadena Parade of Roses in the United States – where flowers and fruits are set in colorful floats by business establishments, community assemblies and peoples’ organizations as they promenade on the streets symbolizing all the bounty sustainably enjoyed by the city’s residents.

Here’s what Dabawenyos will tell you about its festivity: “Kadayawan is an art form in itself. A festival perfectly fit for a local government that tries to position itself as the cultural capital of the Philippines. This is the best time to catch the sights, the sounds, the colors, and the scent all mixing together to encapsulate the rich diversity of a place which was long ago described as the garden of the gods.”

Text: Henrylito D. Tacio