“Kadayawan is a celebration of everything madayaw (good) about Davao City – the food, the sights, the people, the history,” Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said during the 33rd Kadayawan Launching last July 9 at the Marco Polo Hotel Davao.
This year’s 33rd Kadayawan Festival aims to be the biggest and the most extravagant festival to date. For Festival Director Gatchi Gatchalian, he said that last year’s Kadayawan is already big. “But we want to make it bigger”, Gatchalian said. The good lady Mayor even gave last year’s festival a 10.
With the festival covering a much longer date, everyone can expect more of everything that we are used to. And that includes a bigger budget.To state, the Kadayawan committee prepared (a budget) P44 Million. Of which, P12 Million is from the City Government of davao while the remaining P32 Million will come from the private sectors.
Some of this year’s activities include the most anticipated Lumad Games, Drum Beating Contest, Dragonboat Festival, Songwriting and the first ever Kadayawan Ball. Also included is the Kadayawan Fashion Accessories Design and Competition wherein local designers are given the center stage to showcase their talents and designs for the world to see.
To get the feel of Davao’s 11 tribes, a true-to-life Kadayawan Village will be erected for all to experience. There will also be a Tribal Village Walking Tour and Agro-Trade Fair.
Festival mainstays, Street Dancing and the vibrant Floral and Fruit Parade, will also take centerstage. More so is the ever anticipated Hiyas ng Kadayawan that will take place on an earlier date.
For Capt. Ronald Go, Festival Management Team Safety and Security Head, he emphasized that he has never been prouder to be a Dabawenyo. He said, “We had one of the most successful Kadayawan festivals last year. And this year, we aim to exceed”. A blatant challenge to Festival Director Gatchi Gatchalian and City Tourism Operation Officer Gene Rose Tecson.
As to the number of tourists arriving (both local and foreign), City Tourism Operation Officer, Gene Rose Tecson is anticipating, more or less, 200,000 foot traffic to participate in this year’s 33rd Kadayawan Festival. With last year’s data at 185,000 foot traffic, Tecson said that an increase is already expected.
The lady Mayor emphasized that the Kadayawan Festival is a thanksgiving and a reminder for Dabawenyos to look back in history and never be afraid to go back to one’s roots.
The 33rd Kadayawan Festival will officially open on the 10th of August at the Magsaysay Park and will run from 10-19 August.
