Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte reminded Dabawenyos to always comply with the minimum public health standards for everyone’s safety in celebrating this year’s “Kadayawan sa Davao,” which was launched on Friday at the Seda Abreeza Hotel.
“The Kadayawan festival remains to be a symbolic way of celebrating life, bountiful harvest, and diversity among our people. As we bring back the customary activities of our face-to-face festival we may find this time to fully enjoy its essence and continue to recognize and promote the rich culture of Davao City. This while not forgetting to comply with the minimum health standards for everyone’s safety,” the mayor said in his message read by Vice Mayor Melchor Quitain Jr. during the launch.
The media launch signified that after two years of celebrating it online since 2019, this year’s Kadayawan sa Davao will be celebrated face-to-face.
Now in its 37th year, the much-awaited festival is expected to enliven Davao City’s streets once again.
“Two years in the pandemic have changed our lives, especially on how we celebrate our respective festivals in our city. The streets that used to fill with colorful flags and blaring drums have turned into empty alleys, and the celebration under the sun turned into a festival behind the screen. We have two years of virtual celebration of Kadayawan but this year’s celebration, the 37th Kadayawan sa Davao is back on the streets after two years. This is the first national festival that is going to be face to face and it is going to be louder and prouder especially for us Dabawenyos,” said Dr. Malou Monteverde, co-chair for Kadayawan sa Davao 2022 and president of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc, (DCCCII).
Carrying the theme “Kasikas sa Kadayawan,” this year’s celebration will be highlighted with the popular activities that include ‘Pag-abli sa Kadayawan”, “Hiyas sa Kadayawan,” Sayaw Kadayawan,” Indak Indak sa Kadayawan,” “Pamulak sa Kadayawan,” “Pitik Kadayawan,” “Dula Kadayawan,” and “Tambayayong sa Kadayawan.”
“The theme of this year’s Kadayawan is “kasikas sa Kadayawan”, which means to make noise and to have fun after two years. Sino ba naman ang hindi maghahanap ng kaligayahan and fun? The Kadayawan festival is a means to relax and enjoy and a way of thanksgiving for our bountiful harvest. You can see now a lot of durian, rambutan, mangosteen, and marang. Please do come over and have the taste of Davao,” Monteverde said.
Meanwhile, Duterte encouraged everyone to celebrate vibrantly as the city will mark another momentous milestone and with the reopening of the borders invited all tourists and visitors from across the globe to witness the festivity prepared by the city government of Davao for the 37th Kadayawan sa Davao festival.
The festivity will also showcase the 11 tribes of Davao City.
