Photo and Text by Ralph Lawrence Llemit
Davao city’s most festive and colorful festival, KADAYAWAN, has always been a most beautiful and exciting for the world over. With locals, foreigners and visitors coming together to feast on the abundance that Davao City has, remains one of the greatest reason to get out and head on to the streets.
This year we asked, “What makes this year’s Kadayawan better”?
EMMANUEL HIPE, 25, DAVAO CITY, HOBBYIST PHOTOGRAPHER
Kadayawan is way more organized this year. They also added a new event which is the Kosplay Kadayawan, which attracted the ‘millenials’. The Kadayawan this year jived with the youth.
LONETTE SALES, 24, BOULEVARD TRADING, FACE PAINTER
The security implemented by the organizers is same as last year. Although admittedly, it’s very traffic, yes, but you can see that people enjoyed this year.
MARINA VIVES AND LAIA DIAZ, SPAIN
What makes Kadayawan different from other festivals we attended? The colorful dresses and the accessories they wore, they wear it pretty. We saw the dances, there’s a lot of color and vibrance in it. The music is very good.
LIDO BERNARDINO, 40, PAMPANGA
What I really appreciate about Davao is that the tribes and natives here in Mindanao were given a special event for them. They have a parade in honor of them.
ALLAIN RALPH MELOS, TASK FORCE DAVAO, 29, NORTH COTABATO
In terms of our job, it’s a bit exhausting since we are the ones who roam around for security. So far, there are no untoward incident that occurred during the festival. And we are glad that so far, the celebration is peaceful. Also the people here in Davao know how to get along.
GLEN DELA GRACIA, 30, BONIFACIO STREET, DAVAO
So many participants joined the contests, also the crowd. That’s what makes this year the best from last year.
PAUL BENEDICT DUREMDES, 12, DAVAO CITY
Before, the hype wasn’t that great, but this year, the floats were bigger and way more unique in design. I really enjoyed it.
REY MONTOJO, 65, MARFORI
I’ve been participating the Kadayawan festival since then. As time passes by, it’s more organized and the number of people participating have been increasing. I would credit our former Mayor, now President Duterte for making the celebration better all through out. I just hope the floats would reflect more on what Davao represents.
ARLAN SANICO, 25, DAVAO CITY
The floats were great. There are so many entries this year. As they say, Kadayawan is the “King of All Festivals”. Hope they would heighten the security next time around. As you can see, people get too close to the floats, causing a little commotion.
CATHY MAE MODESTO, 17, DAVAO CITY
The events improved. So many celebrities and bands went here to perform. Security has been strict, well knowing that Duterte is the president.
BASILISA DECIERDO, 73, BUHANGIN
People like me on a wheel chair were still able to enjoy the celebration. The marshals have been very considerate to me. I’ve always wanted to see the parade since I don’t usually go into crowded events like this, as long as I don’t cross beyond the line intended for the spectators.
FRANKIE SOUCIE, 31, UNITED STATES
The way they have everything, is open. Unlike in the U.S., you cannot just walk through the float and take photos. You have to do it in a distance. Unlike here, you can go near and take pictures.
ROLYMAR UBALE, 1ST LIEUTENANT BRIGADE, MNLF, DAVAO ORIENTAL
This is our second time around to participate in the float. And we are happy that we were given this opportunity. We are happy that the crowd doesn’t feel intimidated in interacting with us. Some even went to have a photo op with us.
