Here is the second and final installment of an article on Kadayawan Festival. This article is contributed by a Davao-based Internet writer who goes by the pen name Dabawenyong Robot.
Did you know?
Formerly a Kadayawan staple, the Bagobo Horse Fight has been scrapped off the Kadayawan calendar in recent years. It is widely believed that the event was shelved because several activists protested the idea of horses fighting and maiming each other in front of thousands of spectators.
During its active years however, the horse fight was easily one of Kadayawan’s most popular events. It was usually held near the AGRO grounds right along Bolton bridge. Oddly enough, it was notorious among townsfolk not because of the sight of horses slugging it out with each other, but rather because in many instances these restless horses end up kicking their cruel human handlers. Ouch.
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Hiyas Ng Kadayawan
What’s a Kadayawan festival without the search for its Hiyas?
Last year’s search for Hiyas ng Kadayawan saw a total facelift in the mechanics of the pageant. Gone were the days when the criteria for the Hiyas and Mutya ng Dabaw were just almost the same. Also gone were the days that even male contestants could join in and march around the stage. Instead, we have intelligent and beautiful women representing each of the 10 indigenous groups, vying for the Hiyas crown. And it feels just right that way.
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Fruits, fruits and fruits.
The month of August also happens to be the time of ample harvest here in Davao. So expect lots and lots of fruits here in the city during the Kadayawan Festival. Durian, Mangoes, Papayas, Watermelon, Lanzones, Mangosteen, Pomelos and the like… Davao has them all. Lots and lots of them actually.
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Closed Entry Points
Certain roads in downtown Davao will be closed during the Floral Float Parade and the Indak-Indak. The roads usually closed are the intersections right along San Pedro street. So if you want to watch the Indak-Indak showdown just right outside the San Pedro Cathedral, you’ll have to park your car somewhere near the closed entry points and walk the walk.
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Anyway, that’s all for now. Unless dummies like you and me suddenly disappear from the surface of the earth, we’ll be back to give you more.
This article on Kadayawan is contributed by a Davao-based Internet writer who goes by the pen name Dabawenyong Robot.
Myth: The Kadayawan Festival is all about those pretty flowers, fresh fruits and tireless street dancing.
Fact: The Kadayawan Festival is actually a tribute to the indigenous people of Davao City. The flowers (showcased via the “Floral Float Parade”), fruits (oh so abundant in August) and street dancing (called the “Indak-Indak sa Dalan”) are connected to these people and therefore serves among the many highlights of the festival.
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Official Kadayawan press releases and articles are notorious for being too well-written, too deep, too rhetorical. Try reading three well-worded and vocabulary-testing paragraphs from these articles, and then tell us with a straight face if you get the idea right away.
If the answer is NO, don’t worry. You’re not alone. We feel that way, too. Thus we’re writing up this little sham of an article for dummies like us. And you.
Our aim is to let you understand the very basics of Kadayawan in the simplest, clearest way we can… heck we might even share a tip or two. Or maybe not.
Oh well, enough with that already. Let’s get on with the bloody thing.
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The annual Kadayawan Festival is one of the major events in Davao City, along with the Araw ng Dabaw. The latter celebration is a tribute to the city and the Dabawenyos in general.
This year’s festival will be held from August 18-24. However, some official Kadayawan-related events such as the AGRO Industrial Trade Fair (slated for August 8-31) and Kaan Dawet (starts August 17) will be held beyond that timeframe.
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The Kadayawan is a week-long celebration here in Davao City and features several events. Some of the events are way up in terms of grandiose, while some are rather of the solemn type but nonetheless as important.
The official Kadayawan events are those being conducted by the Kadayawan Committee. The Indak-Indak Parade is one, the Floral Float parade is another. The non-official events on the other hand, are conducted by outside sources but acknowledged by the Kadayawan Committee. The Kadayawan Fun Run by the Davao Sunday Runners Club Inc is an example of a non-official Kadayawan event.
Madayaw!
You will most likely encounter this term often during the festival. Madayaw is often USED to convey goodness, beauty, and marvel. So when someone says Madayaw Dabaw, he means to say: “Davao is great and wonderful!”
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The following are just some of the official events that are often considered as Kadayawan’s main attractions, especially for tourists looking to experience something unique and “truly Dabawenyo”. Now bring out the notes and jot these down.
Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan (Other variants of the name include: Indak-Indak sa Da’n/ Indak-Indak sa Dalan) - Street Dance Parade and Competition.
Moda Mindanaw - Fashion and Floral Design Competition
Sayaw Mindanaw - The Mindanao Dance Competition
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Aside from the events listed above, there will also be lengthy showcases featuring each of the recognized indigenous groups in the city. This is called the “Lumadnong Bantawan”. This event will be held at both the Rizal Park and People’s Park.
The indigenous groups that shall participate in these activities are:
Tribong Ata Manuvu
Tribong Kalagan
Tribong K’lata
Tribong Maguindanao
Tribong Maranao
Tribong Matigsalog
Tribong Sama
Tribong Tagabawa
Tribong Tausug
Tribong Ubo-Manobo
The New Kadayawan Commercial (see Kadayawan 2008 video, above) features representatives from each of the ten groups. If you want to personally see more about these tribes, you already know where to go.
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Indak-Indak and the Floral Float Parade
The two big parades of the festival are often held during weekends. This year’s Indak-Indak Parade will be held on Saturday, and the Floral Float Parade on Sunday.
The Indak-Indak has two main components. The first is the street parade, where performers groove it up while parading along selected points of the city. The second is the showdown, where the very same people perform on the same venue, which has traditionally been San Pedro Street. The parade normally takes place in the morning, the showdown from the afternoon to evening.
The Indak-Indak is wildly popular because of the distinctively Mindanaoan beat and costumes. Several tourists come to Davao to watch hundreds of people dancing with vigour in the streets, clad in their native attire and carrying extravagant props that would give Hollywood studios a serious run for their money.
The Floral Float Parade on the other hand, is a showcase not only of the best flowers and orchids that the city has to offer, but also brilliant Dabawenyo minds that never cease to run out of incredible ideas. Want to see giant replicas of animals the size of a truck made up of nothing else but flowers? No problem. Go watch the parade and you will see one.
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In Part 2 of this article, we will touch on some other related topics like the following:
Bagobo Horse Fight
Hiyas Ng Kadayawan — sort of a search for beauty and brains
Fruits (literally) of Davao
So please hang on tomorrow for the second installment of this series.
I was asked that question by a site visitor a couple of months ago. He said he was born in the Philippines, but is now based in the US of A for about 20 years already. Wheeewh! Funny how easily a native Filipino can forget that there are two ways of spelling that word.
Ahh… I remember Andrew Jackson, he said: “It’s a damn poor mind that can only think of one way to spell a word.”
To the Davao Travelers: Dabaw is to Filipino (the language) as Davao is to English.
Got it? You should.
The month of March is when the whole of Davao will celebrate the Araw Ng Dabaw or Davao Day if you may. It’s actually just a single day event. To be exact, that’s on the 16th March. The entire schedule of events is available online. For everyone who will be there to celebrate the Araw Ng Davao, the city government has prepared some merry making events to spice up the day.
And since we are a nation crazy for boxing, all eyes will definitely be glued on the screen sets for the morning (Philippine Time) boxing match of the greatest Filipino boxer — sort of a living legend.
“Is it Pakyaw or Pacquiao?”
I bet, Andrew Jackson will have an easy way out. It’s just “Pacman”, st_p_d.
Attended by more than 5,500 visitors, last year’s Davao Travel Show 2007 was able to generate an impressive PhP 17 million of on site sale. That is about to happen again, but the organizers of the Davao Travel Show is targeting more.
So travel fanatics, mark your calendar. Starting Friday February 22, 2008 head up to the Entertainment Plaza of SM City Davao where the Davao Travel Show 2008 will be held. This three-day event will attended by even more International Travel players including the MGM Grand Macau Hotel Resort probably the biggest participant.
If you love to stay at the Grand Regal Hotel in Lanang, Davao City, this promo is for you:
Superior Room only PhP 3,188.00 net / 2 nights stay (w/o breakfast)
Deluxe Room only PhP 3,788.00 net / 2 nights stay (w/o breaksfast)
Good for single or double occupancy.
Holiday Package Inclusions:
10% discount on hotel outlets (except Mini Bar)
Free use of Body Garage Fitness Center
Free use of swimming pool
Free entrance to Casino Filipino
This promo runs until January 13, 2008 and applicable on Saturdays and Sundays only. For details and reservations, please call The Grand Regal Hotel at +63-082-300-8888 or +63-082-235-0888.
