The Kadayawan Festival is just around the corner with many of Durianburg’s denizens preparing to welcome visitors who will be arriving to experience the celebration. As the only five-star hotel in Davao, the Marco Polo Davao pulled out all the stops as it launched its Kadayawan livery and line-up of activities last August 1.
The hotel’s foyer and lobby was adorned with splashes of Mindanao chic with furniture and accessories by T’nlak Home, paintings by Davao artist Victor Agustus Dumaguing, as well as the personal collection of rare Mindanao antiquities by Arch. Jose Racho Jr. The clash of patterns, colors, and textures was truly a sight to see and enjoy.
For foodies, an area where members of the Cacao Industry Development Association of Mindanao, Inc (CIDAMi) and Malagos Chocolate exhibited their products can be found. There, one can sample all the different chocolate products to their hearts desire. For the event, a chocolate drinking station was set up and manned by no less than Marco Polo Davao’s executive chef Alex Destriza.
The main event of the evening however was when the associates of the Marco Polo Davao came out one-by-one holding Philippine Eagle stuffed toys that were dressed up as inspired by Durianburg’s 11 tribes with Marco Polo Davao general manager Dottie Würgler-Cronin and her two dressed-up eagles as the finale.
“The costumes of the Philippine eagle stuffed toys you see here are a product of the design skills of our associates in the different departments,” shared Dottie, “Each eagle pair will be put on a silent auction and the proceeds of the auction will go to support the Philippine Eagle Foundation.” After the event, the dressed-up Philippine eagle stuffed toys will also be exhibited at the hotel’s lobby while gathering bids from guests.
They say Kadayawan originated as a festival celebrating all things beautiful and bountiful and I could personally say that the Marco Polo Davao is clearly taking that concept to heart, sharing everything beautiful about Durianburg, from its people, its food, its culture and its joie de vie.
