Kadayawan 2009

I missed the Davao City's 24th Kadayawan Festival celebration held this August 17-23, 2009. I had many projects to attend the reason why my family was not able to see major events during the celebration.

Indeed the festive mood of the city was marked with these buntings hanged in the city's main thoroughfares like this one along C.M. Recto Avenue. I took these photos while going home from an appointment.

The celebration was themed "Nahiusang Katawhan Nakigdait sa Kalibutan (One People in Communion with the Earth). Usual highlights of the festival derived from the traditions of the local indigeous people's cultures, included the colorful street dancing / competition which was participated in by representatives from various triabl groups in the region.

Go back to the theme, the people of Davao are always one in dream and aspiration. The emphasis this time is with their supposed "communion with the Earth." If that means with the environment, then perhaps the theme is true especially now that Davao City is faced with the challenged to protect its ecology from environmental abuses. For instance, the city is bent on putting a stop to aerial spraying method as practiced for years by banana plantations here but the case is being contested after the city council favored for the alternative pest-control method.

Another controversy involves the Tamugan-Panigan River system that a power company is planning to tap for a hydropower projects. The river system is a protected area being touted as part of the important acquifer of the city. ALready, the National Water Regulatory Board gave a go signal for the project but the Davao City Water District and the city council opposed to it. Where all this leads to that's a question but we know that this will remain an issue untill all parties will finally agree on common ground - that is what is good for city. Anyway, if you want to know more details about the recently-concluded festival, you can visit the site here.