The Kadayawan Festival’s street dancing remains the top crowd drawer of the city’s annual event.
However, it has also drawn the most flak.
Saturday’s Indak Indak sa Kadayawan 2023 not only attracted a huge crowd of locals and foreigners, but also criticisms from Dabawenyos.
The very popular Indak Indak sa Kadayawan, or the Street Dancing Competition, is one of the highlights of every Kadayawan Festival and showcases contingents in colorful merrymaking of indigenous dance performances with a contemporary twist.
This year, the dancefest took centerstage at the San Pedro
Square participated by 19 contingents.
To highlight the event, the city government of Davao provided four giant LED screens for the mammoth crowd to see the performances.
Despite the innovations, this year’s was a letdown to some Dabawenyos.
Netizens complained they were not able to watch the performances as the area for the spectators was “too crowded.”
A Facebook Page called Words At Play posted “Kadayawan, a celebration for the elites and VIPs.”
It stated that “it has always been a struggle for common people like me to enjoy the different events and competitions that Kadayawan holds, not because of the huge crowd, but because of the little space left for us to squeeze into to witness each delegate’s performance.”
“But…a big part of this space is being eaten by huge pavillions for the so-called elites and VIPs to have a good view, leaving little spots for the common people to position themselves. This gives me an impression that maybe, the performances are intended for this group of privileged people, and we are just bystanders who are lucky to have a few glimpses of the wonderful spectacles,” it said.
The post said hopefully “there will be positive changes in the next years to come, giving better consideration to the masses (a private performance perhaps where the attendees are those VIPs so that during the actual event, the space allocated for them will be freed, or maybe move the event to a much larger space, I don’t know).”
The post created mixed reactions. Some agreed to its sentiments while some were not convinced.
Ken Maikel commented that he agrees with the page’s sentiment.
“I agree with that. But in San Pedro Square only. The government should also pays attention for this next year… though naay mga sponsor, but the remaining budget for this was from taxpayer’s money.. grabe ilang pangharang sa likod.. luoy kaayo ubang tao.. layu kaayo, tent ra’y makita.. if mukaon ka.”
Angeloue Morada commented “Maung ka isa rako nag tan aw anang indak indak kay purti ka init unya ayao ayo paka ug saka sa gate sa San Pedro church para makakita unya likod ra imo makit an! Hahahah.”
Caryl Mae Christine Paete also expressed her struggle to see the Indak Indak live by commenting “You’ll never know the struggle kay wala ninyo nalibot ang San Pedro to get a better spot for viewing unya ending wala gihapon napala. And dili nimo mapugos ang uban tao mutan aw nalang sa live sa FB kay like me, I want to experience it live because it’s our festival. Sometimes mulaag pa ta sa lain city to see and experience their festival unya in your own city sa live broadcast nalang mag tan aw? Unta it will be better next year.”
Niño Castromayor Pastor suggested that the Kadayawan organizers or the city government of Davao could find a place to be called “Kadayawan Festival Ground.”
“Doon po lahat i heheld kasi pag di ka VIP you will never see a good view,” he said.
Kirk Peralta welcomed the said post but expressed criticism for describing the Kadayawan as “for elites and VIPs.”
“Okay ra man ang post.. didto lang nadaut na para ra daw sa mga elites ug VIPs ang kadayawan.. haha.. aha mn dapit?? haha.. kung focus ra unta iyang post regarding sa space sa venue.. okay ra jud kaau unta pero elites?? VIPs?? feeling nako di ka taga-Davao…” Peralta said in his comment.
There are recommendations from the netizens to hold next year’s Indak Indak in a bigger venue that includes the Kingdome Arena of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, UP Sports Complex Mintal, Agro Football Area/Tionko, Davao Crocodile Park, and UM Matina Oval.
Roy Vincent Obingque urged the people to appreciate the effort of the city government of Davao and the organizers for the successful celebration.
“Large amount of people with this kind of event is uncontrollable, and of course VIPs and high ranked government officials naa jud na sila sa front and sa seats. Don’t expect nga mo gasto ang government to pay para makakita ug dako kaayo nga venue giheld na sa San Pedro kay iconic na isa pa mao nana ang tradition sa Davao City kung naay parade,” he commented.
Meanwhile, Nicole Bian-Ledesma, who sits as a member of the Kadayawan Executive Committee and president of the Davao Tourism Association (DATA), assured Edge Davao that the execom is set to have a meeting to discuss all these and how to make the festival even better next time.
Edge Davao is also yet to receive comment/reaction fro the City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO).
