Mindanao Festivals
Kadayawan Festival
(Davao City, Mindanao)
Festival: Kadayawan Festival
Festival Location: Davao City, Mindanao
Festivity Season: between mid-August and mid-September
Kadayawan festival is a celebration that traditionally brings Indigenous people and Davao residents together to celebrate a bountiful harvest and showcase the identity of the local communities. The festival’s name is taken from the Mandaya word “Madayaw” which means “valuable”, “good” and “beautiful.” The festival in its current form was first celebrated in 1986 as Apo Duwaling Festival, the name represents the city’s three icons: Mt Apo, Durian and the Waling-Waling orchid. In 1988 during the term of then newly elected City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, it was renamed as Kadayawan. The festival hosts one of the most unique beauty pageants in the world, Hiyas ng Kadayawan, where women representing the 10 different tribes of the region showcase their culture and heritage. Rather than strutting about the stage in a bikini, the women compete on their knowledge of local and tribal culture and wisdom. Expect beautiful costumes and traditional dances.
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Festival activities to look out for:
Street dancing flower arrangement and exhibit
Beauty pagent Cultural performances
Markets
For more information, check out their official website by clicking here.
Tuna Festival
(General Santos City, Mindanao)
Festival: Tuna Festival
Festival Location: General Santos City, Mindanao
Festivity Season: September
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The Tuna Festival is an annual festival in General Santos City, also known as “Tuna Fest”, is an annual event that takes place in the Philippines to celebrate the city’s rich tuna industry. This festival is not only a celebration of the city’s tuna industry but also an opportunity for locals and tourists to experience the rich culture and history of General Santos City, it is also one of the famous festivals in the Philippines. the local government of General Santos City, in collaboration with the tuna industry, decided to organize a festival to celebrate the city’s tuna industry and to promote the city as a destination for tourism. The first Tuna Festival was held in 1981 and has since become an annual event. The festival is all about good old fish. The event usually opens through the colorful Tuna Float parade and Parada sa Dagat. Both feature fun, festive, and ocean-themed floats that honor the city’s culture. Then, the locals dance to the tune of upbeat and vibrant music. They showcase the province’s bountiful catches through performances. The local’s favorite segment should be the Bancarera sports competition. You can watch a parade of attractive motorized banca, dragon boat race, skimboards, and jet skis during the contest. Thanks to the sports competition, everyone sees the solid camaraderie of the locals. Not to sound too corny here, but their connection lives within their hearts and minds. During the festival, there are a variety of events and activities take place, including parades, cultural performances, and competitions such as tuna cooking and tuna catching. Visitors can also enjoy a trade fair where local tuna products, such as canned tuna and tuna steaks, are on display and for sale.
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Festival activities to look out for:
Tuna parade
Street parade
Food stalls
Sports tournaments revolving around the fish
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For more information, click here.