Very cheerful Kadayawan Festival 2019 in Davao City!
August- a special month for many in Davao City. Not only was it prime for seasonal fruits like durian, marang and mangosteen, it was also the time for the Kadayawan Festival. I was in Davao City for over a week in August and I took the chance to partake in some of the celebrations around the city. This year, activities were held throughout the month, and was a very festive and colourful experience. The festival’s origins go back as far as the 1970s. The many separate festivals by indigenous groups were then combined to a thanksgiving festival called Apo Duwaling in 1986. Originally showcasing thanksgiving ceremonies by the tribal groups, it was rebranded as Kadayawan in 1995 by the then Davao mayor and current Philippine President Duterte. Aside from celebrating the cultures and contributions of the eleven ethnic groups in Davao, this festival also promotes unity and thanksgiving for the bountiful harvests, as well as the peace and harmony everyone in the city regardless of ethnic...
