Davao’s major festival underwent a facelift this year. With the private sector taking rein, backed up by the local government, Duaw Dabaw Foundation Inc. was tasked to make sure this year’s revelry becomes unforgettable again, rain or shine. True enough, no intertropical convergence zone or low pressure area could mar the new stage built for the performances that draw thousands of crowds from all Mindanao each year.

The island’s biggest and most pulsating celebration, Kadayawan sa Dabaw Festival, pays tribute to Mindanao’s indigenous tribes as the focal point of the festivities. Derived from the Mandaya word “madayaw”, Kadayawan signifies anything that is of good value, meaning “beautiful, superior, or beneficial”.

Celebrated every month of August, Kadayawan sa Dabaw’s theme this year is “Ten Tribes, One Vibe,” focusing on the multicolored mix of Davao and Mindanao’s indigenous communities as well as migrant settlers, whose identities make up the rich cultural heritage of this land.