Kadayawan sa Dabaw: A feast of colors

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Thousands flocked to the main thoroughfares of Davao City to revel in the burst of colors and sounds of the Pamulak floral float parade that capped the month-long 34th Kadayawan sa Dabaw festival yesterday.

Aside from the melodious beating of drums and gongs by performers from 11 ethnic tribes, the Kadayawan sa Dabaw fest also featured the Pamulak floral and fruit parade as expression of gratitude to the gods for abundant harvest all-year round. The Pamulak parade showcased the colorful flowers and fruits of the land.

“Kadayawan” is a term derived from the Mandaya word Madayaw—a warm and friendly greeting evoking everything that is valuable, superior, beautiful, good or profitable.

The entire festivity was derived from the ritual that the city’s ethnic tribes – those residing at the foot of Mt. Apo – used to hold in the olden times to thank the gods, particularly the ‘Manama’ or the Supreme Being.

Kadayawan sa Dabaw is also marked by the abundant harvests of fruits such as durian, marang, mangosteen, lanzones, rambutan and pomelo among others. They are sold at very low prices and displayed in the streets, and not just at the Bankerohan public market.

Davao City is also known for tuna cooked in different ways. It gives visitors reason to come back, to taste once more the grilled tuna panga or buntot. Many others prefer to eat it the kinilaw way, and with bare hands.

This year’s Kadayawan sa Dabaw festival formally opened last Aug. 2 with several activities held, including holding of exhibits and trade fairs in various places in the city.

Also among the highlights of the festival was the much-awaited Indak-Indak sa Dalan street dancing held last Aug. 17 and participated in by various groups from different parts of the country. The delegation from Bislig City in Surigao del Sur won the grand prize in the open category and brought home P1 million in cash prize.

The Pamulak parade is traditionally held a day after the Indak-Indak street dancing. For this year’s Kadayawan, the Pamulak was held yesterday instead of on Aug.18.

Meanwhile, the City Tourism Operations Office expected this year’s Kadayawan sa Dabaw festival to draw more visitors compared to last year when the city recorded a total of 208,645 local and foreign tourist arrivals, based on actual hotel occupancy.?For this year, the city government expects up to 250,000 visitors.