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.