KADAYAWAN FESTIVAL 2016: The Sights and Sounds of Indak-Indak Sa Kadalanan 2016

The sun was up hiding from the cirrus clouds that day. The weather wasn’t that scorching but it was warm enough make the celebration more vibrant and lively. At seven o’clock, thrilled people not only from Davao but from other parts of the country and even foreigners started occupying the sidewalk of the city’s main thoroughfare where performers of the Street Dancing Competition will pass by. Colorful buntings were all over giving more colors to the major streets. The mood was extra cheerful. Like the previous years, everyone was tremendously excited to witness and be awed again by the sights and sounds of the Indak-indak sa Kadalanan, the most watched event of the Kadayawan sa Dabaw.

Like those who vowed to never miss Kadayawan Festival every year, the Indak-indak sa Kadalanan has always been my personal favorite. I considered this event as a Mardi Gras of Indigenous Music and Dances featuring different cultures of Mindanao. In fact, it is the only event among other festivities that gathers different festival winners from different towns and provinces in Mindanao to compete and be hailed the grand champion among other festival winners. This is also the reason why Davao City’s Kadayawan Fest is tagged as the Mother of Festivals in Mindanao.

Being the city’s grandest and biggest festival celebrating all that is good in the city, the Kadayawan sa Dabaw celebrates the city’s bountiful harvest and continues to honor the rich, diverse, artistic, cultural and historical heritage of the land. Indak-indak sa Kadalanan depicts the core of this celebration – the bountiful harvest as well as the wealth of the city’s culture.

In this year’s street dancing mardi gras, 13 contingents from various parts of Davao and SoCCSKSarGen Region came not only to compete but also to showcase the culture of their region. Performances of each contingent feature a story line in a well-rehearsed choreography of dances, songs and other theatrical acts accompanied by the rhythm of their music and sound while dressed in colorful costumes and flanked by multihued props.

While tribal chanting gave goosebumps to the spectators, the deafening sounds of the smashing drums ecstatically set the whole street in a jovial mood. Despite the intense heat, people didn’t leave their place for 4 hours to patiently wait for every other contingent to perform. In the end, all the participating groups did not fail to mesmerize the spectator with their spectacular performances.

ONE HUNDRED PHOTOS | ONE KADAYAWAN VIBE

The overall winning performance of James L. Chiongbian National Trade School from Kling, Kiamba, Sarangani Province bested 11 other contingents bringing home Php 500,000.00 cash prize. The entry from Kapatagan National High School of Laak, Compostela Valley was adjudged second place with Php 400,000.00 cash prize while Purok Sison Elementary School of Surallah, South Cotabato placed third and brought home Php 300,000.00 cash prize. This year’s Champion will also represent the city in the annual Aliwan Festival in Manila.

Kadayawan’s Indak-Indak Sa Kadalanan is truly an amazing cultural event that honors the rich heritage and cultural diversity of Mindanao. And just like these multicultural differences showcased during this remarkable street dancing festivity, truly, there is unity in diversity.