Kadayawan: Davao’s Thanksgiving

Davao City was not always called by its current name. In 1848, its founder, Don José Cruz María Oyanguren Ybarzábal --more known as Don Jose Oyanguren-- named it Nueva Vergara in honor of his hometown, Villa de Bergara in the province of Guipuzcoa, Spain. That same year marked the earliest recorded life events in the new settlement. The first baptism in the parish books was of Maria Guillerma, born on September 25, 1848, and baptized on October 1. She was the daughter of Tomas Ajos and Maria Tomasa. The first recorded marriage took place on November 19, 1848, uniting Placido Tomas, originally from Batac, Ilocos Norte, and Cristina Alejandra, originally from Caraga. The earliest recorded burial was on August 20, 1848, for Antonia dela Cruz, a six-month-old child. Since burials in Spanish-period Philippines usually took place within a day of death, it can be inferred that she passed away on August 19. The record described her as the daughter of infieles --meaning her parents had not yet been baptized.

Although Davao was founded in 1848, it only became a city on March 1, 1937. Today, however, it does not celebrate its cityhood. Rather, much like many places in the Philippines, it holds its grandest celebration in honor of a meaningful tradition that predates its city status --the Kadayawan Festival, held every August. This annual event transforms Davao into a stage filled with colors, music, and joy. Streets are alive with dancers, floats overflow with flowers and fruits, and the air is scented with durian and pomelo. At its core, the Kadayawan is the city’s way of giving thanks: for the harvest, for peace, and for the blessings of life.

In the past, Davao’s indigenous peoples --the Bagobo, Mandaya, Mansaka, Ata, Matigsalug, and others-- would gather after every abundant harvest to give thanks to Manama, the Supreme Being, and to the spirits of nature. These were deeply spiritual occasions. Families and communities would bring their finest produce to the foot of Mount Apo, laying them out as offerings in hopes of receiving continued blessings and protection for the coming months. But these gatherings were not solely about crops. They were also about celebrating life itself --renewing friendships between different tribes, enjoying communal feasts, and appreciating the natural beauty around them. The word Kadayawan comes from the Mandaya term madayaw, which means good, beautiful, or valuable --an apt description of the celebration’s purpose and spirit.

In the early 1980s, then-Mayor Elias B. Lopez, himself of Bagobo heritage, encouraged Davao’s tribes to share their thanksgiving traditions openly so more people could see and appreciate them. The event was initially called Apo Duwaling, a name drawn from three icons of Davao: Mount Apo, the durian fruit, and the waling-waling orchid. By 1988, under Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, it was renamed Kadayawan sa Dabaw to reemphasize its indigenous roots and the deeper cultural meaning behind the celebration.

Today, Kadayawan is a week-long feast for all the senses. It includes Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan, where street dancers tell stories through their movements; Pamulak sa Kadayawan features floats lavishly decorated with fresh flowers, fruits, and vegetables; and the Hiyas sa Kadayawan pageant which goes beyond physical beauty, highlighting cultural knowledge and honoring the city’s 11 indigenous tribes; and food and trade fairs complete the festivities, offering everything from durian ice cream to finely-crafted handmade goods.

The Kadayawan remains, at heart, a thanksgiving, honoring nature’s bounty and the labor of farmers and artisans. It bridges cultures, uniting people in joy and respect, and reminds all that peace is possible through understanding. Beyond its cultural roots, it fuels Davao’s economy, drawing tourists nationwide and globally, and supporting local businesses and artisans, proving that tradition and progress can thrive together.

Every August, as drumbeats echo through the streets and flowers bloom in vivid displays, Davao proclaims to all: life is madayaw --good, beautiful, valuable, and always worth celebrating.