New Hiyas ng Kadayawan crown inspired by Waling-waling

photo courtesy of CIO

The beautiful women representing Davao City’s 11 tribes in the Hiyas ng Kadayawan this year have their eyes not only on winning the crown, but in getting the crown, literally.

A lot of work is invested from the conceptualization up to the actual creation of the crowns since they have become symbolic of the pageants they represent.

City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) Head Gene Rose Tecson said the Hiyas ng Kadayawan crown has indeed come a long from years way back when the crowns were heavier and bigger. 

“This time, the crown is simpler but more elegant,” Tecson said.

“This year’s Hiyas ng Kadayawan crown is grander and more functional,” said Dan Salvaña, Jr. who is Hiyas ng Kadayawan events director for the second consecutive year.

The crown for this year’s Hiyas ng Kadayawan is a befitting representation of the Waling-Waling or vanda sanderiana, one of the icons of Davao City and of the Kadayawan Festival. The Festival used to be called Apo Duwaling which is a play on the three icons of the city namely Mt. Apo, Durian and the Waling-Waling.

photo courtesy of CIO

Waling-Waling, which is endemic in Mindanao, is the queen of Philippine orchids.

Salvana said the design of the Hiyas ng Kadayawan crown is changed every year since there is actually no permanent design for the Hiyas crown.

“When I talked to the designer I told him to use the same inspiration for the event logo which is the waling waling, but to make it more colorful,” he said.

Tres Roldan Cartera of Nabunturan designed the Hiyas ng Kadayawan crown using lighter materials such as rhinestones. These crystals are lighter but shinier especially under the night lights during the pageant. The Hiyas ng Kadayawan Grand Winner will get the biggest crown while the runners-up will get almost identical but smaller versions of the crown.

Saldana said the CTOO will safe keep the crown for the Hiyas ng Kadayawan winner. The crowns will be used by the winners during official events. But when their terms end, then they get to keep the crown.

33rd Kadayawan Festival kicks off, highlights tri-people

Mayor Sara Duterte bangs the gong to officially open the 33rd Kadayawan sa Davao (photo courtesy of the City  Government of Davao)

Unity amidst diversity might as well be the theme of the 33rd Kadayawan Festival.

The peaceful co-existence and cooperation among its tri-people consisting of the Christians, Lumads or Indigenous Peoples and the Muslims has never been more evident as the festival kicked off Friday (August 10) at the Kadayawan Circle, Magsaysay Park.

Mayor Sara Duterte led the “Pag-abli sa Kadayawan” which was highlighted by a Holy Mass celebrated by Archbishop Romulo G. Valles who is also president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

Unlike most festival in the Philippines that have religious origin, the Kadayawan sa Davao is a thanksgiving festival for the bountiful harvest in the city, It focuses not just on the city’s agricultural produce but also its rich culture specifically on the 11 tribes namely the Sama, Kagan, Maranao, Maguindanao, Iranun, Tausug, Klata Bagobo, Obo Manobo, Ata, Matigsalug, and Tagabawa. 

“Every year we celebrate Kadayawan but this year we have made it bigger and grander with more events lined up to encourage greater participation from Dabawenyos from all walks of life,” Sara said.

What made Kadayawan sa Davao the festival of festivals is its ability to provide a venue where the city’s tri-people unite to produce something beautiful.

Valles, who also joined representative from the city’s Indigenous Peoples and the Muslim community in their presentation of petitions, during the opening, was elated when he realized that the Muslims and Lumads were also present during the mass.

“We are not only a community of faith in Davao. I presume there are people who truly believe in God but in different styles and proclamations of faith,” he said. Mass is a beautiful tradition, he said, “but your presence here people of other faith is telling another beautiful truth in Davao that in prayer we can come together.”

Valles said he is touched by the manifestation in the part of the mass where we present our petitions to the lord, that is beautiful (referring to the presence of the Muslims and Lumads).

“There is fear, darkness in life but we in Davao are very hopeful, happy and resilient that everything will be Madayaw (good) and maayo (become better and will get by),” he said. He also recognized the limitations not just of the church but of the whole community to respond to difficulties like fire incidents, trouble and violence.

It can be recalled that the church has not given the administration of President Rodrigo R. Duterte a honeymoon period and has criticized the president for his anti-illegal drusg campaign.

Valles said many national church conventions are scheduled to be held in the city. This includes the next CBCP Plenary Assembly which, he said, is tentatively eyeing the city as a venue. The three-day CBCP 4th National Media Convention, with up to 80 diocese participants, was held in the city last week. 

“During the convention, a bishop said he supported the holding of the convention here and they were able to see that martial law is not actually felt here and it is very peaceful in Mindanao,” Valles said. They are beginning to see the other side of the story, he added.

Valles thanked the city for its support to the convention and said that by doing that, it helped show the real face of Davao to these people.

Kadayawan sa Davao is officially held from August 10 to 21 but it is usually a month-long celebration for the city.

City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) Generose D. Tecson said they expect this year’s Kadayawan celebration to attract more visitors given the city’s popularity not only in the Philippines but also in other parts of the globe.

The peak season for tourist arrivals in the city is usually during August during the Kadayawan festivity. Tourist arrivals during the Kadayawan has continuously increased since 2016 when it was recorded at 171,851 and in 2017 at 185,660.

The city expect this year’s Kadayawan celebration to attract more visitors.  Kadayawan Festival Director Renato Gatchalian, Jr. said around 35 visitors from HongKong have confirmed their booking for the Kadayawan experiential rides. 

Get a Cloudfone with Globe's mySUPERPLAN and meet Xian Lim

Want to get the chance to see Xian Lim up-close and personal? Then check out Globe's newest promo.

Globe Telecom is extending a special and exclusive offer to its subscribers in Davao as part of the Kadayawan Festival, Davao’s biggest annual festival that celebrates life, culture and thanksgiving.

“Davao will always be an important market for Globe so we’re very excited to offer this exclusive promo to our subscribers in the region in celebration of the Kadayawan Festival,” said Raul Macatangay, Head of Globe Postpaid.

All Davaoenos who avail of a Cloudfone 352g and Cloudpad bundle FREE at Plan 499 with the Best-Ever mySUPERPLAN from August 1 to 15, 2013, will get a chance to win an exclusive Meet and Greet session with one of today’s hottest heartthrobs and Cloudfone endorser Xian Lim. 

You can also choose from other Cloudfone handsets bundled with a Globe postpaid plan. Just visit any participating Globe Stores in Davao  particularly at Ayala Abreeza, SM City Davao, SM Lanang Premier or Gaisano Mall Davao and apply for a Best-Ever mySUPERPLAN with the Cloudfone your choice.

Once your postpaid application is approved, you get to pick prizes like

• Grand Prize-Meet and Greet Session with Xian Lim
• Major prizes-Xian Lim’s autographed “It’s So You” CDs
• Minor prizes-Globe premium items  

Eighty (80) grand prize winners or twenty (20) winners per participating Globe Store will have the privilege to meet Xian up close and personal. Meanwhile, there will be forty (40) winners of the limited edition autographed CDs and one hundred (100) winners of Globe premium items.

The popular actor, singer and model will fly to Davao on August 18, 2013 to celebrate the Kadayawan Festival with Davaoenos and will visit the four (4) participating Globe Stores in the region to meet the lucky winners of the promo.

Globe Best-Ever mySUPERPLAN is a next-generation postpaid plan with fully-customizable plan components, a plan value almost twice the value of prepaid load, and more contract periods to choose from, ranging from 6, 12, 18, to 24 months. With the Best-Ever mySUPERPLAN, subscribers get the ultimate flexibility in creating a postpaid plan that best fits their needs, lifestyle, and budget. To know more about the Best-Ever mySUPERPLAN, visit www.globe.com.ph/postpaid or call 730-1010.