Basakanon to represent Cebu City in Davao’s Kadayawan Festival

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama is eyeing Lumad Basakanon of Barangay Basak San Nicolas to represent the city at the Kadayawan Festival in Davao City.

Rama intends to send to Davao City the renowned Tribu Lumad Basakanon to heed Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte’s invitation for Cebu City to participate in the Davao City’s Kadayawan Festival.

The invitation was extended by Mayor Duterte during the prayer rally at the South Road Property last Sunday. In the same event, Rama also invited Davao City to participate in the Sinulog Festival next year.

Mayor Duterte said that Davao City will send its contingent to the Sinulog 2025 only if Cebu City will send its contingent to Kadayawan Festival in August 2024.

In an online interview yesterday (Tuesday) with the Cebu City government's Sugboanon Channel, Rama exhibited his enthusiasm for the invitation. According to him, he will be tasking his protocol officer Cenbeth Orellano, Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera, chairperson of the Committee on Tourism of the City Council, and the city council as a whole to make the necessary preparations.

"Aron nga atong ipadala ngadto ang (Lumad) Basakanon," said Rama.

The Lumad Basakanon was the first to enter the Hall of Fame of the Aliwan Festival, a national competition of festivals from across the Philippines. On the group’s first try in the 90s, it emerged grand champion in the Sinulog sa Barangay.

In 2017, Basakanon gained international recognition after winning third place in the World Wonju Dynamic Dance Festival in Wonju, South Korea. It was the first time that the Sinulog Festival was showcased in the competition.

Last Sinulog 2023, however, Lumad Basakanon was bested by Omega de Salonera of Bucas Grande in Free Interpretation category. The group also won first prize in the street dancing competition and third place in the Free Interpretation category in the recent Sinulog Festival.