by RG Alama

Davao City  — All systems are go for the 2009 staging of the Kadayawan Festival in Davao, which is touted as the festival of all festivals.

Patricia Ruvivar secretariat of the Kadayawan Festival Steering committee has said that no less than City Mayor Rodrigo Duterta has stressed that he wants to make this Kadayawan as the most memorable, since this is the last Kadayawan before his term of office ends.

The festival will carry the theme, Naghiusang katawhan, nakigdagit sa Kalibutan” (One People in communion with the earth) and will this August 17 to 23.

Carrying out to become a memorable festival, Kadayawan will be done in two components; one component is the Lumadnong Kasaulogan (Indigenized Peoples Festival) and the other part is the Subay sa Lumadnong Kagikan (Indigenized Peoples Celebration).

The purpose of the two components is that aside from being a major tourist attraction, it recognizes that Kadayawan is a festival that celebrates the city’s indigenous peoples, its diverse cultures, and its unique arts and crafts and where it is mindful of the indigenous peoples’ need to assert their rights to self determination and cultural preservation while peacefully co-existing with the city’s migrant settlers.

The Festival will open on August 17 with an event called Duhwow Davao at the Agro Field. Major events include Tunog Mindanaw (World Music Festival), Moda Mindanao (Fashion competition), Hulagway sa Kaliwatan (visual arts exhbit), Sayaw Mindanaw, Tugtugan sa Kahiusan (Mindanao Indigenous Music Festival), Indak-indak sa Kadalanan and the much anticipated Pamulak sa Kadayawan (floral float competition).

According to Ruvivar, despite the global financial crisis, the festival has not been downgraded as the festival budget from last year of P15-million has not been changed. They are also expecting strong private sector support for the festival.

City Tourism Operations Officer Bong Aportadera said that they are monitoring for erring tourism establishments since this will be the time when many tourists will come. He said he expects high standards from these establishments particularly on hygiene, cleanliness and service as their sustained efforts to promote Davao City will go in vain if these establishments are not up to par.

Aside from tourists, the City is also preparing to accommodate an influx of indigenous people who are invited to showcase their culture and traditions among the residents and visitors.

Ruvivar also said that the Chinese community will also participate in the Kadayawan as various events like night markets are marked inside Davao Chinatown during the duration of the festival.

She said that Kadayawan will show that Davao is a unique place since it has the highest concentration of a diverse cultural group which is fully integrated into a cosmopolitan and multicultural city. (PIA XI)