Madayaw Agaw

(Photo Eli Ritchie Tongo/NurPhoto GETTY)

Davao City has three big yearly festivals. The first is the March 15 Araw ng Dabaw. Started by the late Mayor Elias Lopez is 1967, it is the biggest government celebration in Mindanao. The second is the June 29 San Pedro Archdiocesan and Parochial Fiesta. This is the biggest religious activity of Davao City. The third is the August 15 Kadayawan Festival which became part of Davao City’s tradition when Pres. Duterte become the Mayor in 1988. The three festivities complement each other. Araw ng Dabaw, San Pedro Fiesta visually show the pious and elegant church traditions during the novenaria from June 20 to 28; games like Palo Sebo, Juego de Janillo, Pabitin. etc. The August 15 Kadayawan show the deep religious rituals of the indigenous tribes of Davao like the Bagobo, Tagabawa, Manobo, Klata, Matigsalog, who honor the diwatas for the fruitful harvests. The rich mixture of the three fiestas show that indeed the heavens is kind and merciful to Dabawenyos.