Celebrate diversity
It’s my first Kadayawan Festival weekend where I’m no longer a full-time journalist and it has to be spent sick in bed. Haha! It could be worse, though, at least this is just the beginning of the festival. I am sure to be up and about when the main events happen next weekend.
You’d have thought that I would have front seat-ringside view of the festival being the top honcho of a local newspaper, wouldn’t you? Wrong.
Being the top honcho means you stay put and direct things, which you can’t do when you are in the thick of it. Ergo, in my whole career, I only witnessed Kadayawan up close and personal once, and it was fun.
From all the activities held and scheduled, this year’s Kadayawan looks even more fun with more aligned activities. Those dragon boats look really sleek, I’d have loved taking photos of all those muscles and paddles and water splashing. I have that to look forward to next year.
The opening was truly grand, colorful, and as festive as it could ever be. When organizers started claiming that Kadayawan is the king of festivals, they really have set their sights on making this come true such that it’s no longer just about the highlights on Saturday and Sunday when the festival comes to an end, it’s now a whole week of celebration with a lot of things for everyone.
While the Indak-indak street dancing and the Pamulak floral parade remain to be a must-see, the best addition ever yet has been the Kadayawan Village in Magsaysay Park, which is now on its second year. Through the Kadayawan Village, the festival’s desire to acknowledge the indigenous peoples has come full circle.
The Hiyas sa Kadayawan somehow gave us a glimpse of the young women in their tribe’s best attire, the pride of the tribes. But their answers during the Q&A portion of the pageant are just not enough to encapsulate the whole essence of their tribes. Plus, it’s just for a night and with limited seating. Kadayawan Village brings indigenous peoples’ culture up front where the curious, the concerned, and the unschooled can get a walkthrough in what comprises the very heart of the IPs--their homes.
The idea of a Kadayawan Village was indeed an inspired one and can only be thought of because the organizers are focused on what the festival truly wants to underscore--Davao’s bounty and wealth in culture. That it’s open to all throughout the week (and beyond) gives it an even bigger audience and scope, allowing the time-strapped and the sick to sneak in a schedule.
Let me just get rid of this irritating cough and you will find me snooping around that village, soon. I’m sure I will have a lot of stories to tell after.
The idea of a Kadayawan Vil- lage was indeed an inspired one and can only be thought of because the organizers are focused on what the festival truly wants to under- score--Davao’s bounty and wealth in culture