The festival, which takes place between mid-August and mid-September, is a celebration of the Philippines’ pre-colonial identity and culture.
For an entire month, in the middle of summer, the city of Davao, in the southern Philippines, the third largest in the country, comes alive with the Kadayawan festival, a celebration of local culture.
Markets pop up on every corner, colorful parades invade the streets, the powerful smell of Durian – for many a delicacy, for others a rotten fruit from hell – wafts from the local stalls, a siren call for the most adventurous foodies .
The festival, celebrated annually between mid-August and mid-September, is a great introduction for first-time visitors to the Philippines, as well as the perfect next step for returning travelers who only know the country for its beautiful beaches .
What is Kadayawan festival?
The Kadayawan festival is a celebration that traditionally brings together indigenous people and residents of Davao to celebrate a bountiful harvest and showcase the identity of local communities.
“In Davao there are tribal villages that allow you to see what were the traditional homes of our tribes and to meet the elders and members of these tribal communities,” Philippine Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco tells Euronews Travel.
“And in that, it gives you a peek into the pre-colonial identity of the Philippines that still remains unchanged, in the sense that it gives you an idea of what the Philippines would have been like before the Spanish invasion. [colonial period].”
What can you expect from the Kadayawan festival?
The festival hosts one of the world’s most unique beauty pageants, Hiyas ng Kadayawan, where women representing the region’s 10 different tribes showcase their culture and heritage. Instead of strutting around the stage in bikinis, the women compete based on their knowledge of local and tribal culture and wisdom. Expect beautiful costumes and traditional dancing.
If beauty pageants aren’t your thing, check out the incredible Indak-indak sa Kadalanan, a street dancing competition that promotes the culture, rituals and folklore of the region’s different tribes.
Another tradition not to be missed is that of the Pamulak Kadayawan, huge floats made up of flowers, fruit and all sorts of local products that parade through the main streets of Davao city, attracting the attention of amazed passers-by. The event is one of the largest of the festival.
What to eat at the Kadayawan festival
The season is perfect for trying some of the most famous fruits the country has to offer, including the infamous durian and the less controversial mangosteen, marang and rambutan. There’s an agricultural festival going on in Kadayawan, so you’re spoiled for choice.
“If you can overcome the olfactory challenges, durian is actually quite delicious,” says Garcia Frasco, recommending that visitors choose vendors who cut the fresh fruit in front of you. “But it’s also the season for so many other historic fruits, and it’s all ‘farm to table’.”
The festival is also a chance to see “a completely different face of Filipino food,” as many vendors maintain their tribes’ traditional food preparation methods.
Image:Getty Images
