KADAYAWAN EVENTS. Art Boncato, co-chairperson of the 2016 Kadayawan executive committee shares the initial list of activities for the Kadayawan celebration this year during the I-speak media conference on Thursday, July 14. (Paulo C. Rizal/davaotoday.com)
By Jennica Diaz, MSU Intern
DAVAO CITY— An initial list of events for the week-long celebration of Kadayawan festival is now out.
Art Boncato, co-chairperson of Kadayawan 2016 executive committee and assistant secretary of Department of Tourism, said the events for the thanksgiving celebration were already agreed upon in an execom meeting on Wednesday, July 13.
Speaking before the weekly I-Speak media conference here on Thursday, July 14, Boncato said the opening ceremonies of the Kadayawan will be held in the morning of August 15, while cultural activities will be done in the evening.
Boncato said the events will include the annual Tunog Mindanaw competition of performers and artists with their music inspired by the 11 tribes of Davao. The competition is open to all Mindanaoan composers and songwriters. There will also be Sayaw Mindanaw dance competition of Mindanao-based groups performing Lumad myths and folktales through dances.
He said the highlights of the Kadayawan are focused during the weekend.
On August 19, the Indigenous Peoples Day will feature events highlighting the culture and tradition of the Lumad for the whole day.
The day will start with a fluvial parade that will culminate the celebration of all the 11 tribes proceeding to the city center in where different tribes will showcase their talents.
Other events during the day are the Lumadnong Dula, which features the traditional games played by the Lumad groups, and the Hiyas sa Kadayawan pageant. The venues for the two events are still under discussion.
Two of the most anticipated festival highlights, Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan, a street dancing competition open to all Mindanaoans, will be held on Saturday, August 20, and the Pamulak sa Kadalanan floral float parade which showcases the bountiful harvests of fresh flowers and fruits in Davao will be on Sunday, August 21.
On the evening of August 21, the city government will host a thanksgiving concert and party, Boncato said.
He said they are still finalizing the schedules of the event.
More simple celebration
Meanwhile, acting city mayor Paolo Duterte has previously said that parties and concerts in downtown area will be prohibited during the Kadayawan.
“Events to be held in public parks and other public places should only highlight the culture and traditions of the Lumads and the Muslims,” said Duterte.
Duterte also said that the celebration this year will be simple “to highlight the city’s ethnic groups.”
However, Boncato said the execom is yet to finalize the budget of the Kadayawan.
“We studied the budget used last year and currently putting it together,” he said.
Last year, Kadayawan was allocated with P15.1 million budget, P5 million of which was shouldered by the city government. The budget was also higher by P3 million compared to the 2014 Kadayawan celebration.(davaotoday.com)
