Kadayawan 2012: A celebration of flowers, dance, tribes and vibe

Days before the high point of the Kadayawan Festival, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said, “With all that had happened in the past few days, I think this year’s festival is better than last year.”

 

Prophetic words as, despite the scorching sun, locals and foreigners alike filled the streets of the city in order to embrace the exuberant energy of the 27th Kadayawan Festival. 

 

Kadayawan is derived from the Mandaya word “madayaw,” which means “good, valuable, superior, or beautiful.”  The festival is structured as “the celebration of life, a thanksgiving for the gifts of nature, the wealth of culture, the bounties of harvest and serenity of living.”

 

And celebrate it did! Themed “Ten Tribes One Vibe,” this year’s festival showcased the diverse color, culture, and unity of the 10 tribes that inhabit the city: Tausug, Matigsalog, Obu Manuvu, Maguindanaon, Bagobo Tagabawa, Sama, Bagobo Klata, Maranao, Ata and Kagan.

 

Kadayawan festival activities took many forms. On August 17, 18-year-old Maguindanao-native Jean K. Ali was named Hiyas sa Kadayawan during the pageant’s coronation at the Davao City Recreation Center.

 

The following day, the Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan street-dancing competition, which also highlighted the different cultures of the indigenous peoples through dance and music, rocked the streets of the city. Jesus Soriano High School of Davao’s Catalunan Grande and Bambad National High School in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat were declared champions in the competition’s city-based and open categories, respectively. Each won a half-million prize.

 

The city literally bloomed on August 19 when Pamulak sa Kadayawan took center stage in the festivities.  Introduced in 1995, it’s a competition that features floats adorned with orchids, flowers, fruits, and vegetables.

 

The big category was won by homegrown developer Kisan Lu Lands Inc., bagging a P500,000 cash prize.  The Villar Foundation placed first in the small category with a cash prize of P150,000.  Davao Horse Club won the non-motorized float category and received a cash prize of P50,000.

 

The success of the recent Kadayawan festival was summed in a Sun Star Davao editorial: “By setting aside a festival that revolves around the unique cultures and the beauty of each of these cultures, we are able to work out a harmonious coexistence as well as a continuing curiosity of how the other cultures live.” — DVM, GMA News