Davao and the Kadayawan festival

Widely considered as the window to the island of Mindanao, Davao is an important commercial, educational and cultural center of this region. Having one of the largest seaports in the country, it is regarded as a very important hub for regional and international trade. It is also a melting pot for different cultures, with people from different ethnic tribes like the Bagobos, Mandayas, Manobos, Mansakas, Tibolis, B’laans and Tagacaolos living together harmoniously and embracing the province as their home.

Not many people probably know it but the word “Davao” actually originated from the Bagobo word “daba-daba”, referring to the Sacred Brass of the tribe’s legendary chieftain, Datu Duli, who lived in Mt. Apo. The letter “o” was added to the word, making it “daba-o daba-o”, which to the Bagobos meant justice and the datu’s fairness to his people. As time passed, the word was shortened to “dab-o” and eventually became “davao”.

Davao is endowed with many picturesque landscapes; a predominantly mountainous region marked with rolling hills and fertile valleys; a place of natural wonders and rarities. It is home to a magnificent array of flora and fauna. It boasts of our country’s highest peak, Mt. Apo; the king of fruits, the durian; the famous orchid specie, vanda sanderiana, or more commonly known as the waling-waling; and our national bird, the magnificent Philippine Eagle. Of course, Davao is also home to the famous Kadayawan Festival.

A moveable festival in August, the Kadayawan Festival is a weeklong celebration and thanksgiving for nature’s bountiful harvest. It highlights the diverse tribal cultures of the province, vividly expressed in traditional songs, dances, games and crafts. “Kadayawan” is derived from the ancient word “madayaw”, a warm and friendly greeting also used to explain a thing that is considered precious, superior, attractive, good or lucrative. “Kadayawan” in Mandaya means anything that brings fortune, a celebration of life, a thanksgiving for the gifts and bounties of nature.

The streets of Davao literally becomes abloom with fruits, vegetables and flowers of different shapes, sizes and colors filling the parade routes. People from different tribes garbed in their colorful tribal costumes march through the streets, dancing in wild abandon to the rhythm of native musical instruments. Other activities, like the native and powerboat races; horse fighting, wherein stallions fight each other over the rights to mate with a mare; and a beauty contest, further add fun and excitement to the festivities. By the way, horsefighting, no matter how exciting it can be, should be discouraged. These animals have been serving us since time immemorial, and they deserved to be treated with love and respect. To have them fight one another for our entertainment is cruel.

The festival began when a government-initiated program called “Unlad Proyekto Davao” was launched in 1986, with the aim of uniting the Davaoeños after the tumultuous martial law years and promote the city as a peaceful and colorful place to visit and do business. At the time, the festival was called “Apo Duwaling”, a name that was taken from icons Davao was known for: Mt. Apo, durian and the waling-waling. In 1988, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte changed the festival’s name to “Kadayawan sa Dabaw” to celebrate the city’s unique wealth in flowers, fruits and ethnic culture.

Since then, the Kadayawan has evolved to become the globally-famous festival that it is today, honoring Davao’s artistic, cultural and historical heritage. For the natives and tourists alike, the Kadayawan will always be an enriching experience, a celebration of life and appreciation for all things Filipino.