Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte’s banging of the gong on 15 August signaled the opening of the 37th Kadayawan sa Dabaw — dubbed the region’s king of festivals for its exhilarating mix of colorful costumes, dazzling dances, beautiful flowers, luscious fruits and people joyously joining the weeklong revelry in celebration of the bountiful harvest of crops and the culture and tradition of the city’s 11 ethnic tribes.
This year’s edition of Kadayawan — from “madayaw” or superior and valuable — was especially significant since it marked the festival’s return after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic.
One of the event’s highlights, held on 20 August, was Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan, literally street dancing, a dance competition with two categories: Davao school-based and Open.
A grand prize of P1 million and trophies awaited the top placer in each category. They drew five aspirants each.
Declared winner in the school category was Bernardo D. Carpio National High School Performing Ensemble, which likewise swept the special awards, namely: Best Music, Best Choreographer, Best Mask and RCBC Diskartech Special Award.
Runners-up in the Davao school-based category were Sta. Ana National High School Performing Arts Guild (second place), Doña Carmen Denia National High School (third), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Regional Office 11 Davao (fourth), and Mabini National High School-Apo Duwaling Dance Company (fifth).
Triumphant in the Open category was the Sindac Anib Performing Ensemble from Bislig, Surigao del Sur, which likewise won Best in Music and Best Choreographer.
The CFCST Palabuniyan Cultural Dance Ensemble from Pikit, North Cotabato, clinched second place in the Open category with a P500,000 cash prize and trophy.
In third place was the Youth Olmag Performing Arts Guild from Kidapawan City, North Cotabato, with a P400,000 cash prize.
Runners-up were Samal Island City College, LGU of Island Garden City of Samal (fourth place), and Sidlakan Performing Ensemble from Malita, Davao Occidental (fifth place).