Kadayawan Festival

● Kadawayan is a
festival in Davao
City.

● It is celebrated during
the 3rd week of
August.
● KADAYAWAN  – a merriment of blessings for
the bounties of nature, the richness of culture, the
gifts of bountiful harvest and the tranquility of
living.
BRIEF HISTORY OF KADAYAWAN

● The festival’s name is derived from the Mandaya word

“madayaw,” meaning treasured or valuable, as the
locals use this time to give thanks for the season’s
bountiful harvest. Back in the day, the ethnic tribes of
Davao would come together to celebrate abundant
crops, performing rituals that paid tribute to the nature
gods.
● They used to display fruits, vegetables, flowers, rice, and
corn grains on their mats and at the front of their
houses as a sign of respect for the great year they’ve
had. They used to sing and dance as well, much like
what they do today.
● In the 1970s, then Mayor Elias B. Lopez,
encouraged the different Davao tribes to
showcase their thanksgiving rituals. In
1986, the Davao City government
launched a project that aimed to unite
the people during the turbulent times of
the Martial Law.
● Back then, the name of the festival was
called Apo Duwaling, after three natural
wonders you can find the region: Mt. Apo,
Durian, and Waling-waling.
● It was first officially renamed as the
Kadayawan Festival in 1988 by then
Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, and now, over 30
years later, it’s still being celebrated.
The theme of Davao
City’s Kadayawan
Festival is dedicated to
the The tribes of Ata,
Matigsalug, Ovu-Manuvo,
Klata-Djangan, Tagabawa,
Tausog, Maguindanao,
Maranao, Kagan, and
Sama
Street Dancing locally
called “Indak Indak sa
Kadalaan”, the vibrant colors,
heart pounding drum beats and
awe inspiring dances of the
different tribes of Davao and
other tribes of Southern
Mindanao dominated the main
streets of Davao City. The
melody of every song, the
rhythm of the smashing drums
and the groovy vibes of the
surroundings joyfully set the
whole city in a jovial mood.