For Dabawenyos, Kadayawan sa Davao is no longer just celebration of abundance, culture and heritage, but a thanksgiving of being resilient and united amid challenges.
Davao City faced many storms this year: the arrest of the city’s well-loved leader, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently detained at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands, and the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte.
However, the father and daughter squashed all the blows. The former president won as Mayor of Davao City in the 2025 local and national elections on May 12, while the impeachment case against the vice president was declared unconstitutional and recently archived by the Senate of the Philippines.
Amid these setbacks, Davao City continues to thrive under the leadership of acting Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte.
The acting mayor opened this year’s Kadayawan celebration, highlighting in his message the resilience of the Dabawenyos amid the challenges.
“Mao karon nagkasinabot ta ug dugay nato nahimo natong mamintinar ang pagkamalinawon ug pagkalambo sa atong lugar ug hangtod karong adlawa ania gihapon ta bisan pa man daghan ta ginaatubang na mga kalisod. Nadagma ta pero kitang mga Dabawenyo pag kita’y madagma, kita mubangon ug kahibaw ta nga mas kusgan muabante gikan sa atong pagkadagma,” he said.
Meanwhile, the vice president attended the Misa Pasasalamat on August 7 to kick off Kadayawan 2025 at San Pedro Cathedral in Davao City.
The vice president emphasized that there are a lot of things to thank for to the Almighty.
“Kitang tanan nga naa diri karon, gihatagan ta sa Ginoo ug one more day. Mao na kinahanglan magpasalamat especially karon na Kadayawan Festival kay mao ni ang panahon sa thanksgiving dinhi sa Davao,” she said.
Sara said that she has been through a lot, but she is not afraid because God is with her. She also said that she has many things to be grateful for and one of them is the love of the Dabawenyos for her and her family.
Sara received the monicker of “Eagle of Mindanao” as she embodies the symbolic traits of the majestic Philippine Eagle: clear vision, focus, courageous, has integrity, honest, humility, and compassion.
Just like the Philippine eagle, Sara epitomizes tenacity and resilience for rising above her detractors.
This Kadayawan sa Davao, the vice president invited visitors and tourists to experience the feel, sights, and sounds of Davao City.
“Kung nakahinumdum mo nagsugod ang atong festival with a thanksgiving for the fruits and the flowers, the Philippine Eagle and Mt. Apo mao na buhaton nato kada tuig nga magpasalamat sa Ginoo,” the vice president said.
She urged the visitors and tourists not to miss visiting the Philippine Eagle in the Philippine Eagle Center (PEC) in Malagos, Davao City.
“Unang-una gyud dinha is ang atoang Philippine Eagle, we are home to the Philippine Eagle so dapat gyud maila-ila nila ang atoang mga Philippine Eagles. We have a conservatory naa dinha sa Malagos. Kinahanggalan, mabisita na nila,” she said.
The PEC is home to several Philippine Eagles, of which some are captive-bred. It also houses other species of birds, species of mammals, and species of reptiles. The center is simulating a tropical rain forest environment, offering the visitor a glimpse into the country’s forest ecosystem. Although the exhibits are used primarily to help educate the Filipino people on conservation, the facility is also considered a major tourist attraction in Davao City.
Aside from the PEC, Duterte also invited the guests to explore the fruit vendors in the city’s public markets and the durian stalls outside the Magsaysay Park.
“Kinahanggalan sila mabisita sa atoang mga prutasan, sa atoang mga palengke, daghan kayo og mga prutas sa atoa nga — sa Durian sa Magsaysay Park kinahanglan na nila bisitahon,” she said.
She also encouraged the visitors to experience the culture and multicultural environment of Davao City.
Davao City is home to 11 tribes that showcase their traditions and culture at the Kadayawan Tibal Village in Magsaysay Park.
“Makita nila ang atoang managkalainlain mga Indigenous Peoples Tribes naa sila showcase dinha sa Magsaysay Park and the nightly cultural show. So kinahanglan pud na bisitahan sa atoang mga turista ug mga bisita,” Duterte said.
