Faith and Kadayawan

Kadayawan means a very fruitful big harvest festival. The source is Madayaw, a Dabawnon word for good or great. All tribes since the beginning have accepted religiosity as the most important part of their lives. The earliest civilizations (Turkey, Egypt, Persia, Inca, etc.) focused on agriculture so people can eat. Before Magellan’s arrival in 1521, all the different tribes from Apari to Jolo already had fixed customs, beliefs and traditions regarding blessings from Heaven before they will begin the planting season. After the harvest, all the tribes hold their biggest celebrants to thank their gods and the heavens for the blessings which will let them survive till next year. Thus, we have the Ati-atihan in Aklan, Dinagyang in Iloilo, Sinulog in Cebu focused on thanking God for all the blessings that the people received.

The Davao City tribes: Bagobo, Tagabawa, Klata, Matigsalog, Guianga, Obo, call their yearly thanksgiving festival Kadayawan meaning bountiful harvest. These tribes living within the 2,244,000 hectares of Davao City celebrate Kadayawan on August because that is when upland rice, durian, boongon, lanzones, rambutan, marang, mangosteen are gathered.

The Old Testament, Leviticus chapter 23, stressed that the Israelis shall offer the best, first part of their annual harvest to Yahweh and the prayers shall be for many days. The oldest, biggest festivals in India and China ever since also focused on thanking God for the bountiful harvests. Davao City is one of the first cities in Mindanao to hold a religious festival acknowledging the blessings from heaven by way of a fruitful, big harvest. God will give his people abundant rain, sunshine so they can eat and live. Madayaw agaw!