THIS YEAR’S Kadayawan Festival celebration would be more subdued as Davao City is still in the period of mourning and vigilance due to the public health crisis.
To make sure that all the basic health protocols are enforced, City Hall has decided to move most of the Kadayawan activities to digital platforms beginning Aug. 17 to Aug. 24.
Among the highlights include the Kadayawan music video competition, Kadayawan in retrospect, best of Kadayawan events viewing party, and others.
The ceremonial opening of the Kadayawan Festival 2020 dubbed “Pag-abli sa Kadayawan!” at 3 p.m on Aug. 17.
On Aug. 24 at 1 p.m, the city will launch an audiovisual presentation through zoom or live-streamed on Facebook entitled “Pasasalamat: Honoring The Frontliners”.
Mayor Sara Duterte said that the Kadayawan will still highlight the culture of the tribes of Davao City.
“Kadayawan is a celebration of a bountiful harvest and our indigenous peoples here in the city of Davao,” she said.
However, she added that Davao City should also not forget the issues and challenges that the indigenous people are facing right now. “Not just only on COVID-19, but … their ancestral domain, access to education, (and) access to opportunities,” the mayor added.
“A celebration of IP culture here is a celebration of culture everywhere else,” she said.
The city government has stepped up its campaign to promote four simple ways to cut the chain of COVID-19 transmission in the city.
For more visibility, the campaign on staying at home, wearing masks, social distancing, and frequent washing of hands now comes in banners, posters, and t-shirts to remind Davaoeños on the health protocols.
The “Stay Home” campaign banners the tagline “Save Money, Save Lives, Stay Home”. The slogan is printed in banners, tarpaulins posted on city government buildings, and elsewhere in the city. It is also on t-shirts for city government employees to wear from Monday to Thursday.
August 24 declared a
non-working holiday
President Rodrigo Duterte has declared Aug. 24, 2020, as a special non-working holiday in celebration of the Indigenous People’s Day as part of the Kadayawan Festival.
The Indigenous Peoples’ Day, one of the major highlights of the Kadayawan Festival is celebrated in Davao City every third Friday of August. The day is a tribute to the 11 tribes of Davao City to preserve their history and culture.
In Proclamation No. 991 released by the Office of the President on Aug. 7, 2020, Davaoeños will be given a full opportunity to celebrate and participate in Kadayawan activities. But they are urged to observe public health measures, such as social distancing and the wearing of masks.
