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The Kadayawan 2010 : What’s In Store For You?

August 19, 2010 by Davao Traveler Admin

The month of August translates to Kadayawan Festival in Davao City. Officially, the Kadayawan is a week-long event that, this year, started last August 16 and will commemorate on August 22 with the much-awaited floral parade. I said officially, because for many of us here in Davao, Kadayawan really spans the whole month of August. That means roughly 30 days of fun and excitement.

For first time visitors of the city, the Kadayawan also provides the best opportunity of getting a feel of what real Davao City can be.

So for visitors and locals alike, the single, common question is, “What can we expect in Kadayawan 2010?”

The short answer is, “A lot.” There are so many to be enjoyed in the city this month. Here are some for you to consider.

Cultural Events

The Kadayawan Festival was really started by the natives of Davao. (informally though, because there was no Powers-That-Be to formalize it yet.) The local folks noticed that the month of August was really the month of fruits, vegetables and overall bountiful harvest. Naturally, they gave thanks and attribute their produce to a Higher Being.

In other words, it is the festival by the natives that we modern Dabawenyos have taken to a whole new level to make it more formal – and lively. Still, the spirit of the event is there. And thanks to our local government, the natives of the land are being honored and recognized for their contributions during this event.

So remember: Kadayawan is a celebration of a bountiful harvest and it is also a cultural festival. In fact, the Kadawayan Festival will be highlighted with the following Cultural Events the festival has been known for:

  • The Indak-Indak Sa Kadalanan — A street dancing show and competition. You’ll witness native dance steps accompanied by native tunes – all these while the dancers are taking the busy downtown roads of Davao; minus the jeepneys of course.
  • Pamulak (A Floral Float Parade) — This one is considered to be the main attraction of the festival. Flowers and orchids in full bloom will be showcased in beautiful colors and decorative designs. Expect to see this on Sunday, 22nd of August.

Fun and Parties

Now, I know party people would consider all those Cultural Events as kind of boring. And sure it’s difficult to argue with them.

There’s only one thing that can fire the adrenaline alive: Party. Of course, this it would be boring indeed if the Kadayawan will not include such fun and exciting events.

Here’s something to consider for all you party peeps out there: SMART Concert — This will be on Aug 21, 8:00AM till 11:00AM at the People’s Park.

If you can’t go there because it’s a morning event and no party person ever parties in the morning, you can always visit any party place and bar at night-time. They definitely have something in store that blends with the Kadayawan Fever.

Not to be left behind, the malls around the city always have something to surprise you at these very times. From singing and dancing to shopping and dining, any mall in the city is definitely a way to go once you are here in Davao for the Kadayawan.

Fruits… More Fruits

Kadayawan is not without fruits all around the city. They come in abundance and at very affordable prices. For example

  • Lansones at P 10 / kg
  • Durian at P 20 / kg
  • Mangosteen at P 15 /kg
  • Rambutan at 20 / kg

Thanks to the bountiful harvest, that’s already the cheapest price these fruits can get. The other reason you would want to buy these fruits is they come at the highest (sweetest) quality during this season.

Shopping Galore

Speaking about malls, those from the nearby towns and cities already know that Kadayawan also brings with it the best in business deals. In other words, discount offers abound. Plus, competitions are just next to each you don’t even have to drive a car to compare prices and strike a deal.

I’d like to make special mention that there is currently a Horticulture Exhibit next to the SM Parking Area. For all you flower and orchid lovers out there, that’s the place to go.

~~~

The Kadayawan 2010 is written by Carlos Velasco.

—

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Filed Under: Attractions, Events Tagged With: Kadayawan, Kadayawan Festival

The Best Places to Hold Christmas Party Bash in Davao

December 21, 2009 by Davao Traveler Admin

It’s party time!

Yes, it is! As family and friends gather together during these holidays, sharing a whole bunch of laughter and stories amidst sumptuous meals and drinks, Christmas has almost become synonymous with the word party.

Food, drinks, games, gifts and more is what Christmas parties constitute every year making it one of the most anticipated activities as the year comes to a close. The very reason why it now becomes part of the Christmas traditions here in the country.

But like every happy, enjoyable and fun gathering, Christmas parties have to be planned carefully to satisfy the attendees’ party craving.

In holding a Christmas party, the venue is always one of the first things being considered and you will be glad to know that the most exquisite places to hold parties hast great Christmas offers for you.

The Marco Polo Hotel Davao

The towering Marco Polo hotel, the perfect party venue for people who has a quite bigger budget. Feel the Marco Polo party experience this Christmas as they offer an affordable Php 600 per person Christmas package with your choice of Western Buffet or Oriental Set menu. Nothing could be memorable than holding your party in the hotel’s function room with other offers to highlight your celebration such as their sing-along party equipment and admirable Christmas decorations.

The Waterfront Insular Hotel in Davao

An alternative venue, far from the hustle and bustle of the city street is the Waterfront Insular Hotel in Lanang, Davao City. The entrance towards the hotel is already inviting, giving you the feel of Christmas Spirit with Christmas lights illuminating the pathway.

This year, the Waterfront also offers good Christmas packages with your choice of Php 450, Php 650, and Php 750 per person with wide array of meals to choose from. While its function room is best for parties, you can also try their garden tent for a more close to nature, outdoor party experience or their La Prilla Grill, Pirata bar or Vinta bar inclusive with an inhouse singer, pianist and videoke equipment. All of these are available with a 4-hour use of function rooms, sound system, decorations and dance floor.

Casa Leticia

For only Php 20,000 pesos, up to 70 people could enjoy an exclusive indoor party at Casa Leticia’s Toto’s Grill while 40 people could satisfy their party craving with only Php 15,000 at Sagay Ilongo at Casa Leticia’s Ecoland Branch. All these offers complete with TV with player, decorations, and standby waiters.

The Grand Regal Hotel

Four choices of Christmas package is available at the Grand Regal Hotel also in Lanang. Offers range from Php 440.00, Php 480.00, Php 520, and Php 560 per person package all with the use of well decirated function room, sound system, two-set menus to choose from and many more add-ons with complementary freebies.

Dencio’s Sa Hilltop

If you want to try other exciting venues, you may visit the Dencio’s at Hilltop or Jack’s Ridge both at Maa Diversion Road which offer a breath-taking sight of the city with its dazzling lights during nighttime. You may also try Jack’s Ridge specialties of the month like the delectable Hawaiian Pork Hamonado only available for the month of December.

The Pearl Farm Resort

Luxurious it may seem, but nothing beats a holiday over at the Pearl Farm Resort. Pearl Farm offers packages suited for families and couples alike. Their family package worth Php 15,000 for parents and 2 kids – 12 years old and below with the complementary use of the resort’s facilities. A Dream Honeymoon Package for couples worth Php 24,000 with lots of freebies.

BlueJaz Resort and Waterpark

If party guests love the waters, its best to try BlueJaz Resort and Waterpark located at the Island Garden City of Samal. If party means water adventure to you and your friends, the resort is perfect with its facilities like water skis, kayaks, wakeboards, waterslides and even zipline which now offers a panoramic view of Davao City. It also offers a wide array of international cuisine for you to choose from and enjoy. Blue Jazz now boasts to be one of the best resort destinations in the city.

K1 KTV and Music Bar

Love singing? Turn your party into a whole night singing and dancing spree with a lot of places to choose from here in the city. For one, there is the K1 KTV and music Bar at Prime Square in Torres St., which offers an exclusive KTV room for you to party on. World Palace along Quimpo Blvd. offers differently themed rooms for you to enjoy. This place is perfect for group of friends no more than 10 people.

Wherever you may hold your Christmas party, just keep in mind to enjoy every minute of it. After all, there are a lot of reasons to be merry this Christmas.

~~~

There you have it, Matt Regis’s guide on the best places in Davao to hold your Christmas Party.

Filed Under: Events, Hangouts Tagged With: Bluejaz Beach Resort, Casa Leticia, Dencio's, Grand Regal Hotel, K1 KTV, Marco Polo Hotel, Pearl Farm, Waterfront Insular Hotel

Freedom Climb

June 3, 2009 by Davao Traveler Admin

Imagine this: Six towering mountains all over Mindanao…. Eleven Mountaineering Groups… Each mountain climber determined to reach the peak.

“What to do there?”

Simple: Raise the Philippine Flag. That’s it.

“Are you nuts?”

Not for those mountaineering folks from the Philippine National Mountaineering Society. The group aims to gather the mountaineers all over the country to organize the biggest celebration of Independence Day in different Mountain peaks all “over the Philippines as a tribute to our fallen heroes in commemoration of their gallantry and struggle for our freedom.”

“Independence Day, you say?”

Yes my friend, at exactly 7:00 AM in the morning of June 14, 2009, a simultaneous flag raising ceremony will be done.

Now that’s one heroic and patriotic idea.

All Mountaineers Unite

So for those who want to participate in this big event you can coordinate to the Mountaineering Groups involved in this activity.

Here in Mindanao area, the following mountains will be conquered:

  • Mt. Apo – Needs no mention, this is simply the highest of them all.
  • Mt. Kitanglad – said to be the fourth highest mountain in the Philippines. This is located in Bukidnon Province
  • Mt. Putting Bato – the highest peak in the nearby Samal City
  • Mt. Talomo – this one is just in Davao, going farther up the Toril area.
  • Mt. Magwawa – in Davao del Norte
  • Mt. Katambad – somebody please tell me where this mountain is.. 😉
  • Cliff Hanger Peak – do we really have this in Mindanao?

And the eleven Mountaineering Groups that will be joining the activity:

  • MFSM (Mountaineering Federation of Southern Mindanao)
  • TEAK (Telecommunications Ecological And Adventure Klab)
  • LOGSAC (Local Government of Sta. Cruz) Adventure Club)
  • SAVERS (Sta. Cruz Active Volunteers for Emergency & Rescue Services)
  • MOSS (Apo Mountaineering Outdoor Sports Society,Inc.)
  • MOSACA (Mountain Scaler Asian Club Adventure, Inc.)
  • ADAMCI (Adventist Davao Mountaineering Club, Inc.)
  • Care Group (Coordinated Action Responding Emergency)
  • TRIMMOC (Tribong Mindanao Mountaineering Club)
  • CALMOC (Calinan Mountaineering Club)

So, all mountaineers in the Philippines, unite! The date is one June 14, 2009, (Independence Day is June 12) but you should get in touch with your mountaineering group prior to that.

~~~

This article is contributed by:

Engr. Albert C. Gabriel
MCTCA Vice Chairman for Eco-Tourism
Freedom Climb Coordinator for Mindanao

Filed Under: Events, Outdoors Tagged With: Mountain Climbing, Mt Apo, Mt. Putting Bato

An Invitation To Conquer The Mount Apo

August 26, 2008 by Davao Traveler Admin

The Municipal Council for Tourism, Culture and the Arts (Eco-Tourism Committee), in coordination with the Local Government of Sta. Cruz Adventure Club (LOGSAC) invites all mountain trekkers and enthusiasts to climb the Philippines’ highest peak, The Mount Apo, this September 25 to 28, 2008.

Come and join this adventure of a lifetime and enjoy new and captivating ranges of vision in Sta. Cruz such as Cabarisan Hanging Foot Bridge, Jugapong Falls, Tudaya Falls, Tinikaran Holding Camps, Bagobo-Tagabawa Cultural Communities, Mount Apo Boulder Face, Summit and Lake Venado.

Registration fee is only PhP 1,800.00 and includes:

  1. Transportation from Davao City to Jump Off-Point and from Exit Point to Davao City
  2. Climbing Permit
  3. Exit Fee
  4. Guide Fee
  5. Certificate
  6. Activity I.D.
  7. SOUVENIR T-SHIRT

NOTE: Maximum of 30 slots will be accommodated on a First-Come-First-Serve basis.

If the adventurer in you feels like joining, get in touch with the mountaineers-organizers for inquiries and reservation:

Engr. ALBERT C. GABRIEL
MCTCA Vice-Pres for ECO-TOURISM
Sta. Cruz Tourism Office
Cel # 0919-3142117
e-mail: gaboskimsurf@yahoo.com

Mr. JULIUS R. PANER
LOGSAC President
Sta. Cruz Tourism Office
Cel #0920-8567991
e-mail: trekjulpanz@yahoo.com

Filed Under: Events Tagged With: Adventure, Mountain Climbing, Mt Apo, Outdoors, Sta. Cruz

Kadayawan For Dummies, Part II

August 18, 2008 by Davao Traveler Admin

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.

***

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.

***

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.

***

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.

***

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.

Madayaw Dabaw!

Filed Under: Events, Tourism News Tidbits Tagged With: Attractions, Festival, Indak-Indak, Kadayawan

Kadayawan For Dummies, Part I

August 17, 2008 by Davao Traveler Admin

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.

***

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.

***

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.

***

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!”

***

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.

Pamulak Kadayawan – Floral Float Parade Competition.

Dawow: Tubod sa Kasaysayan – Davao River Festival

Tunog Mindanaw – World Music Festival

Moda Mindanaw – Fashion and Floral Design Competition

Sayaw Mindanaw – The Mindanao Dance Competition

***

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.

***

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.

***

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.

Filed Under: Events, Pictures and Videos, Tourism News Tidbits Tagged With: Festival, Indak-Indak, Kadayawan

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