Celebrating Culture and Good Harvest

The 39th Kadayawan Festival is an incredible celebration of Davao City’s cultural richness, deeply connected with the Archdiocese of Davao’s dedication to inclusivity and pastoral care for Indigenous Peoples (IPs). The Church actively integrates these communities into its spiritual life, ensuring their needs are met and their heritage respected.

The festival began with the Misa Pasasalamat on August 7, 2024, presided over by Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles, DD, offering thanks for the season’s harvest. The following day, Mayor Sebastian Z. Duterte and Vice Mayor Atty. Melchor B. Quitain Jr. officially opened the festival at the Kadayawan Village, Magsaysay Park.

Kadayawan not only honors the vibrant traditions of the city’s indigenous and Moro tribes but also embodies the Church’s mission to foster unity, respect, and belonging. The festival, rooted in the Mandaya word “dayaw” meaning “good” or “valued,” was shaped by Davao’s leaders to celebrate and unify the city’s diverse ethnic communities.

A highlight this year is the Pananam sa Kadayawan: A Food & Products Fair, offering a taste of indigenous delicacies from August 9-18, 2024, at Magsaysay Park. The Hiyas ng Kadayawan, a beauty pageant showcasing the tribes’ beauty and talent, remains a staple event.

In 1988, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte rebranded the event as “Kadayawan,” from Apo Duwaling Festival establishing it as an annual festival every third week of August. This move ensured the preservation and appreciation of Davao’s cultural heritage while reinforcing the Church’s role in nurturing the identities of these indigenous groups within both the Church and society.