* Comes with big surprises
By Adam B. Morrell
For the second time, Dabawenyos will celebrate the “King of Festivals” in a new normal way as the City Government of Davao stages a digital 36th Kadayawan sa Dabaw activities starting August 20 amid the pandemic.
City Tourism Officer, Generose Tecson, said that Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte wish to have an array of activities in digital platform inspired by the actual celebration of the colorful festival that features the culture, tradition, and heritage of Davao City.
Tecson said the digital platform adheres to the health protocols that put premium on the safety of the Dabawenyos.
“(We are) taping the segments while adhering to the health protocols specially on mass gathering. This is already the new normal which people have already come to terms,” Tecson said.
The tourism office is digitally bringing in the Tribu Kadayawan that will feature Davao City’s 11 ethnolinguistic groups, Tunog Kadayawan which gathers the biggest names in the local music industry , the iconic Indak-Indak Kadayawan, Sayaw Kadayawan, and Habi Kadayawan.
At this point, the tourism office cannot divulge further information as they are still in the preparation stage.
But Tecson urged the Dabawenyos to watch the entertainment value of the festivities in digital presentation.
The opening ceremony premiers on August 20, at 5:00pm, followed by the Tunog Kadayawan at 8:00pm.
Starting at 3:00pm on the next day, the tourism office will premier the Tribu Kadayawan, Sayaw Kadayawan and Pahalipay, respectively.
The finale set on August 22 will feature Tribu Kadayawan, the much-awaited Indak Indak Kadayawan, Habi Kadayawan and Pahalipay starting 10:00am.
While the minority of the Dabawenyos are slowly adjusting to the new normal, there still those who are hoping for the actual celebration and activities to return in time.
The Mindanao Journal crowdsourced the Dabawenyos on what they particularly miss in the celebration.
Edith Regalado, a seasoned journalist, said: “I missed the smiles that come out unrehearsed from happy faces all over, young or old alike. I missed the rush for the next activity hopping from one event to another, the culture and the colors and all.”
Others missed the parade, the bands, the night outs while some simply missed the hype.
Basketball aficionados, however, cry for the prestigious Kadayawan Sa Dabaw Invitational Basketball Tournament where the Royal Mandaya Hotel and Matina Enclaves in partnership with the Sports Development Division bring in the best basketball atheletes in the Philippines vying for the title at the Davao City Recreation Center (Almendras Gym).
Gone were the days when basketball stars from the PBA, UAAP, NCAA and Commercial Leagues flaunt their explosive dunks to the pleasure of the Dabawenyos inside the jampacked gym.
The people also missed the various sporting events and entertainment craze being staged in all corners of Davao City.
Some do miss the drinking spree while watching the live performances of their favorite OPM bands invited from Manila.
The Dabawenyos simply missed the Dabawenyo way of celebrating Kadayawan.
Despite the restrictions and adjustments, the essence of Kadayawan will live on whether it is being physically or digitally celebrated.
Afterall, it is the Dabawenyos who ignite the real spirit of the festival. (Story by Adam B. Morrell, feature photo by Renato Arias)