#Kadayawan 2018: Hiyas ng Kadayawan

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I’ve been living in Davao City since I was 12 years old, but I’ve never experienced Kadayawan. Being an introvert discourages me from going out and participating in activities which involves a lot of people crowding together in an area. Even if I’ve never seen it in person, I do know that it’s a celebration of the bountiful harvest which takes place in the third week of August, and it also showcases the culture of the local tribes in Davao City. Kadayawan comes from the Mandaya word ‘madayaw,’ a greeting reserved for beautiful things.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte officially gave the festival its official name (Kadayawan sa Dabaw) back in 1988. It used to be a gathering of the local tribes to thank the ‘Manama,’ or Supreme Being for a good harvest. This simple celebration has grown to include Lumads, Moros, and Christians who now enjoy Kadayawan yearly.

I’m a fan of the Philippine culture, and I want to be a part of its preservation someday. Maybe this desire is what finally prompted me to see for myself the festival for myself this year. I want to personally experience immersing myself in the Kadayawan experience to get ideas on how the city celebrates its local tribes. Together with my partner, we ventured forth for the Kadayawan Festival with our media pass, starting with the Hiyas ng Kadayawan coronation.

It was indeed an excellent experience. The crowd present in the RMC Gym had an infectious enthusiasm, and you can’t just sit back and watch the event impassively. Watching the cultural presentations gave me goosebumps, as I saw how proud the locals are of their culture. As the candidates sauntered to the nature-inspired stage, I witnessed how each woman carried herself with grace and how each of them proudly represented their respective tribes. Tribe members cheered for their candidate relentlessly, notably after each one gave their answers in the Q&A portion of the pageant.

Credits to: Denver Langahin

In the end, Nes-Ann Naraga from the Kagan Tribe reigned supreme over the lovely candidates and won as Hiyas sa Kadayawan. In her Q&A, she emphasized that winning the Hiyas will provide an excellent opportunity for her to show the attractive qualities of her tribe and to help people regardless of their tribe or religion.

Sittie Aisha Salim of the Bangsa-Maranao tribe was crowned as Hiyas sa Panaghiusa, and Karen Joy Dowing of the Bagobo-Klata tribe won as Hiyas ng Kalambuan. The Hiyas sa Kaliwatan include Lovern Jorich Bio (Bagobo-Tagabawa tribe), Monera Mande (Matigsalug tribe), Hanna Agujitas (Obu Manuvu tribe), Juhaira Omar (Iranun tribe), Rahma Musa (Tausug tribe), Chiary Balinan (Ata tribe), Norjanah Sirad (Maguindanaon tribe), and Sama Tata Dolina Ambo (Sama tribe).