DAVAO CITY – The celebration of "Kadayawan sa Dabaw" will be done online from August 17 to 24, a first in the 35 years since Davao City’s grandest and most colorful festival began, Mayor Sara Duterte said on Monday.

During her interview over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR 87.5), Duterte said the local government has lined up a few activities for the Dabawenyos, which could be viewed through social media, in celebration of Kadayawan this month.

Duterte highlighted the importance of pursuing the festival even online as it was a celebration of bountiful harvest and of the cultural diversity of the indigenous peoples (IPs), who are being confronted with various challenges as to their rights such as but not limited to their ancestral domain, access to education, and access to other opportunities.

“We want to make sure that we are aware of these issues concerning our IP groups, not only here in Davao City but also in other places. A celebration of IP culture here is a celebration of culture everywhere else,” she added.

In the previous years, around 300,000 visitors, including photographers from different parts of the country, flocked to the city for Kadayawan to celebrate and honor the city’s 11 indigenous tribes.

The city’s 11 tribes are composed of six Moro tribes (Tausug, Maguindanaon, Iranun, Kagan, Maranao, and Sama) and five Lumad tribes (Klata, Ata, Ubo Manuvo, Matigsalog, and Tagabawa).

The city will have an austere celebration of Kadayawan as the city is in a period of mourning and vigilance due to the public health crisis, highlighting, among others, events such as Kadayawan Music Video Competition, Kadayawan in Retrospect, Best of Kadayawan Events Viewing Party, according to City Government of Davao's social media page.

On August 17, “Pag-abli sa Kadayawan” (opening ceremonies of Kadayawan 2020) will be done via Zoom/ Facebook live, and the launch of “Hulagway Kadayawan” (photography contest), “Kadayawan Museonline,” “Kadayawan Music Video competition,” and “Challenge Accepted Kadayawan”.

“Kadayawan in Retrospect part 1,” a special webcast series featuring personalities sharing their memorable Kadayawan Experience will be featured liver on FB on August 18.

The “Best of Sayaw Kadayawan” (a cultural dance theater competition), featuring highlights of past competitions and “Best of Hiyas ng Kadayawan,” featuring highlights of past pageants will go online on August 19, while the  “Kadayawan in Restrospect part 2” and “Best of Habi Kadayawan,” featuring highlights of the past fashion accessories design competition will be aired on August 20. 

Awarding of Online Events for “Tiktok Indak-Indak Kadayawan,” “Kadayawan Music Video,” and “Most Memorable Kadayawan Experience,” and “Pahalipay sa Kadayawan Online: Paglaum Concern” (a concern of hope) part 1 will be held on August 21.

The “Best of Indak-Indak Kadayawan,” featuring highlights past street dance competitions, and “Pahalipay sa Kadayawan Online: Paglaum Concern part 2” (concert of hope) will be aired online on August 22, while the Best of Pamulak sa Kadayawan (floral float) parade and Best of Pitik sa Kadayawan past, featuring highlights of past floral float parade and drumbeating competitions, will be held on August 23; and the Pasasalamat: Honoring the Frontliners (thanksgiving) on August 24.

Duterte said the local government pushed through with online celebration of Kadayawan even with the ongoing pandemic.

The mayor issued Executive Order 25 declaring a period of mourning and vigilance from April 17 to December 31, 2020.

Extravagant celebrations are prohibited within this period.

The order provides that city and national government celebrations, parties, anniversaries, and festivities shall be canceled; commemoration of important dates and legal holidays should be kept short and must be in somber tone; all barangays shall refrain from the extravagant celebration of their fiesta while all founding anniversaries/ Araw ng barangay celebrations will be canceled.

It added private parties to mark personal or family milestones should be kept low key and modest, meaning a celebration in a public place with no more than 25 guests, while those who want to pursue big celebrations can do so next year.

The private sector is likewise advised to adhere to the requirements, recommending a food distribution, feeding program, or financial assistance to their employees in place of grandiose celebrations to mark their important events, it said.

Events lined up for the 83rd Araw ng Dabaw last March this year were also canceled by the local government as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the deadly virus in large crowds.