The 37th Kadayawan sa Dabaw festival, back on the streets after a two-year, pandemic-induced hiatus, held its penultimate event, Pamulak and Pitik, on 21 August.
Pamulak, which in Hiligaynon means “to flower or to blossom,” pays tribute to the flowers, fruits, and tribes of Davao.
Pitik means drum beating.
As early as 6 a.m., locals and tourists waited with excitement on the sidewalks for an opportunity to see and take pictures of the parade of floats representing business establishments in the city.
Wadab Babao, Pamulak organizer, explained the popularity of the event: “While enjoying the parade, you also hear the booming beats of drums and watch the talented performers, as culture and music collide in a stunning display along the city’s main downtown streets.”
The Aeon Towers by Aeon Luxe Properties was hailed grand winner in the big-sized floats category with P800,000 cash.
VXI Global Holding B.V.’s second place finish came with P600,000 and Philippine Air Asia bagged third place with P400,000.
Grand winner in the
small-floats category was Del Mar Painitan with P400,000 cash. Communities Davao Inc. Camella Davao won second place with P300,000 and Alorica Teleservice Inc. placed third with P200,000.
In the alternative category, the Tahawrog Tribe from Marilog District was chosen grand winner with P150,000 followed by Davao Horse Club in second place with P75,000 while BlackHawk Extreme Riders of Davao Inc. clinched third place with P50,000.
The winners in Pitik sa Kadayawan were: Magallanes Elementary School Mugnapak-The Beaters, first place; Davao Drumbeater Community, second; Caraga Drumbeaters, third; Kultura Musika Performing Ensemble Inc., fourth; and Magdirigma Sta. Ana National High School Drumbeaters, fifth.
Consolation prizes went to Music Knight Drumbeaters and Davao Eagles Drumbeaters.
Marjun Cristobal, Aeon Luxe Properties float designer said his concept showed that with the easing of pandemic protocols, the Dabawenyo family can finally celebrate Kadayawan as a “Refreshed, Renewed, and Re-Vibed” community.
The design, he said in a Facebook post, is an expression of Davao as a mother caring for the city’s residents as children with a food basket that never gets empty.
“She gave us the durian, the fruit abundant in her basket. We celebrate Davao as mother and her durian-loving child,” Cristobal said.