It’s KADAYAWAN FESTIVAL 2012!

Prepare yourself for a parade of colors as energetic street dancers dressed in vibrant traditional garb of the indigenous peoples of Mindanao flooded the narrow streets of Davao City as it celebrated the 27^th Kadayawan Festival during the weekend, August 17 to 19.

Kadayawan, dubbed “the festival of festivals” and “the king of festivals” in the country, is a thanksgiving celebration of the 10 Moro and Lumad tribes in the region for the year’s bountiful harvest. Kadayawan is derived from the Mandaya word “madayaw,” which means “good, valuable, superior, or beautiful.” The festival is structured as “the celebration of life, a thanksgiving for the gifts of nature, the wealth of culture, the bounties of harvest and serenity of living.”

Kadayawan is a must see every 3rd week of the month of August yet, another year of good harvest and a treasure for all the tribes in Davao and so, it’s also a time to spend in thanking God for all the bountiful blessings for this year.

Themed “Ten Tribes One Vibe,” this year’s festival showcased the diverse color, culture, and unity of the 10 tribes that inhabit the city: Tausug, Matigsalog, Obu Manuvu, Maguindanaon, Bagobo Tagabawa, Sama, Bagobo Klata, Maranao, Ata and Kagan.

Let’s unveil the most awaited schedule for this year!

Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan

Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan is a people’s celebration and merriment through choreographed and theatrical street and dance-narrative competition anchored on indigenous tradition of festival celebration and continuously performed in major streets of Davao City. It is an open group competition of various groups, organizations, institutions or communities in Davao and Mindanao.

This year 20 contingents will compete + 1 non competing group will perform in the morning for the street dancing and in the afternoon during the grand ritual presentation;

Here’s the list of contingents for the street dancing competition:

1. Tribu Mapawa of Maragusan compostela Valey
2. Bolton elementarySchool
3. Naluponan, Tagugpo, Lupon davao Oriental
4. Sixto Babao elementary School
5. Talaingod Bobongan Dance Arts
6. Vicente Hizon Sr. elementary School
7. Bambad National high School
8. Atremio Loyola sinagtala Dance Ensemble
9, Notre Dame of Santo Nino
10. Tribu Kalibugan of Fatima elementary School
11. Indak Kabataan Performing Arts Guild of Digo, Davao del Sur
12. Jesus Soriano National High School
13 Mangudadatu Cultural Street Dancers
14. San Isidro elementary School of Buhangin
15. Mabuyok sa Mainit Cultural Troupeo Mainit Surigao del Norte
16. Teatro Catalunians
17. Kutawato Institute of Technology foundation
18 Santa Ana Performing Arts Guild
19 Lake Sebu
20 Cesario Villa-Abrille elementarySchool
21 Tribu Hamtong- SeniorCitizens Association of Agdao district (Non competing)

Kadayawan Festival 2012 Street Dancing Winners

Jesus Soriano High School of Davao’s Catalunan Grande and Bambad National High School in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat were declared champions in the competition’s city-based and open categories, respectively. Each won a half-million prize.

Here now is the full list of winners of the Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan (streetdancing)competition for Kadayawan Festival 2012 of Davao City.

Open Category

4th Runner-up - P100,000
 Entry #5 - Talaingod Bobongan Dance Arts of Talaingod, Davao del Norte
3rd Runner-up - P200,000
 Entry#15 - Mabuyok sa Mainit Cultural Troupe from Mainit, Surigao del Norte
2nd Runner-up - P300,000
 Entry#17 - Kutawato Institute of Technology Foundation of Cotabato City
1st Runner-up - P400,000
 Entry #9 - Notre Dame of Sto. Niño of Sto. Niño, South Cotabato (Cheers for my fellow South Cotabatenos!)

Champion – P500,000
Entry #7 – Bambad National High School of Isulan, Sultan Kudarat Province (They also joined in South Cotabato’s T’nalak Festival and placed second after Sto. Nino bagged first place for the T’nalak Festival Kadsagayan A Lalan)

Davao-based Category

4th Runner-up - P100,000
Entry #14: San Isidro Elementary School of Buhangin

3rd Runner-up - P200,000
Entry #6: Vicente Hizon, Sr. Elementary School

2nd Runner-up - P300,000
Entry #10: Tribu Kalibugan of Fatima Elementary School

1st Runner-up - P400,000
Entry #18: Sta. Ana National High School

Champion - P500,000
Entry #20: Jesus Soriano National High School

Madayaw Dabaw!