by Lovely A. Carillo
IF you can conjure up images of tribal people, all dressed up in their brightest and most colorful tribal wear consisting of sparkling mango yellows, aggressive rambutan reds, flirty oranges and a riot of colors aboard their festooned bancas heading from the Generoso bridge towards the Tionko football field downstream, just in time for the grand water ritual to the rhythmic sounds of Dawow Dayaw, then you have successfully caught in your mind’s eye the spectacular grand opening of the week-long 24th Kadayawan sa Dabaw Fruit and Flower Festival.
That will be two weeks from now, on August 17, but Davao City is all set for the week-long Kadayawan celebration which ends on August 23, thanks to the efforts of the committee in charge of the preparations jointly spearheaded by the private sector led by chairman Lorenzo Tan and the city government headed by Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte.
The organizers have set a budget of P15 million to ensure yet another successful celebration of the annual activity that has attracted local as well as foreign tourists. While the government has allocated P700,000 as its contribution to the fund, the rest will come from the private sector. Tan said they are confident they can raise the amount balance as many business firms in Davao and even from other major cities have signified their intention to invest in the Kadayawan.
This one promises to be the grandest Kadayawan ever, considering that it will be the last under the term of Mayor Duterte. This was the assurance given by Patricia Ruivivar, the mayor’s chief of staff.
Dawow Dayaw
The participation of the ten tribes of Davao: Five from the Lumads — Ata, Diangan, Obo Manobo, Matigsalog and Tagabawa, and five from the Muslims — Maranaw, Kalagan, Sama, Tausug and Maguindanao.
Since Kadayawan is also all about the natives of Davao, then they will be the center of attraction and of the celebration. It is thus fitting that the tribes will open the 7-day festivity with the Dawow Dayaw, which is a celebration of sounds, music and dances that will seal the people’s covenant with Mother Earth.
This year’s Kadayawan has for its theme “Naghiusang Katawhan Nakigdait sa Kalibutan” which means One People in Communion with the Earth.”
“We are now focusing on our responsibility to Mother Nature in view of the world problem on climate change,” Festival director Richard Dion Vilar said. In line with this, the chairpersons of all the Kadayawan events are conscious about applying the theme by using natural fibers, indigenous materials as well as recyclable materials.
However, Vilar said that using recyclable materials means they will have to spend for processing of the materials and make full use of their creativity.
The cultural heritage of Davao’s tribes has found a permanent showcase in the Cultural Village located at the Crocodile Park. Tourists may want to visit the Park to quench their curiousity.
Hiyas ng Kadayawan
The Search for the Hiyas ng Kadayawan has also become more significant and challenging because the candidates have to be at least 50% Lumad or Muslim. They also have to demonstrate the totality of their culture, not only through their costumes but also through their cultural knowledge and skills.
“The candidates will have to demonstrate a particular skill common to their respective tribes by playing their musical instruments live during the search — these are the agong, kulintang, and the other native instruments,” Councilor Myrna Dalodo-Ortiz, chair of the Kadayawan Lumadnong Kasaulogan or Indigenous Peoples Festival, said.
Moda Mindanaw
One of the events that will not only fully showcase this year’s theme but will also provide livelihood opportunities for the locals is Moda Mindanaw, a fashion and floral design competition involving the use of indigenous-inspired silhouettes as well as Mindanaoan fabrics and floral accessories.
The use of fiber takes inspiration from the declaration by UNESCO of 2009 as Year of the Fiber.
“We have lots of fibers in Davao, such as abaca, durian and banana; our designers can make full use of those resources,” Oscar Casaysay said. A total of 12 fashion designers from Davao City, Davao del Norte and South Cotabato will make use of natural fibers when conceptualizing and executing their fashion creations.
Casaysay said what is great about this event is their tie-up with Vice Mayor Sara Duterte’s “Magnegosyo Ka Day” Program, which provides livelihood opportunities for marginalized women’s organizations.
“The designers were asked to make their designs wearable because we have also invited buyers from all over, and even our judges are the likes of Fredrick Peralta and Randy Ortiz,” he said. There is a great possibility of producing business transactions from this event, he added.
Moda Mindanaw will also include the sandal and bags competitions. The sandal competition will be done in coordination with Tribu, a company previously based in Davao but is looking to re-establish ties with the city once again. The bags competition will involve bags made by the women prisoners at the Maa City Jail.
Pamulak Kadayawan
No Kadayawan is ever complete without the floral parade competition participated in by the private sector, including such big companies and perennial winners NCCC and SM City Davao.
This year’s parade will be more in keeping with the environmental theme because for the first time, it will have an open category, hence, even the lowly kariton (cart) and trisikad drivers may decorate their vehicles with flowers and fruits and join the competition. The aim is for alternative vehicles, not necessarily operated by gasoline, to join the parade.
The Kadayawan Festival has placed Davao in the international tourism map and this year’s celebration will only confirm what every Dabawenyo, and visitors who have witnessed the Kadayawan, have known all along — Davao is truly blessed, not only with fruits, flowers and vegetables, but abounds in natural resources as well. Not to forget the traditional Dabawenyo hospitality. Madayaw Dabaw!
