Although already a customary practice of the indigenous people of Davao, the thanksgiving festival was institutionalized in 1986 to unite the Dabawenyos after the turbulent Martial Law years. It was then called "Apo Duwaling," a contraction of the famous icons of the city - namely Mt. Apo, Durian and Waling-waling. Two years later, it was renamed "Kadayawan sa Dabaw" to better reflect the merry spirit and indigenous theme of the celebration.

Today, Kadayawan has metamorphosed into a festival of festivals, the mother of many other festivals in the region as it honors Davao's artistic, cultural and historical heritage, its past personified by the ancestral "lumads", its people as they celebrate on the streets, and its floral industry as they parade in full regalia in thanksgiving for the blessings bestowed on the city.

Kadayawan sa Dabaw is an enriching experience with a difference as it explores the past, present and future of the Davaoeños, the Mindanaoans, the Filipinos. Its sights and sounds remain unparalleled. Be part of the experience.