Kadayawan is a festival of thanksgiving for bountiful harvest and tribute to its colorful tribes in Exotic Mindanao. Held every third week of August in my second home Davao City, it is a week-long celebration that interfaces the three aspects; tribal, industrial and arts and entertainment. The festivities are highlighted by the floral float, street-dancing competitions and exhibits showcasing the island’s tourism products and services.
The festival derived its name from "Madayaw!", the warm and friendly greeting derived from the Dabawenyo word “dayaw” that means good. It's the Davaoenos way of welcoming with deep appreciation, just like "Mabuhay!" in Tagalog.
The first Kadayawan thanksgiving festival was held in 1986 to unite the Dabawenyos after the turbulent Martial Law years. What makes Kadayawan a unique festival is that it pays tribute to the Lumad, a collective group of indigenous people living in the city.
After more than 20 Kadayawan years, Davao City has nurtured a culture of peace in harmony with nature and with great respect to indigenous traditions. It has become the gateway to the arts and culture of Mindanao. All these are found in Kadayawan.
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