Municipal Council for Tourism, Culture and the Arts (Eco-Tourism Committee), in coordination with the Local Government of Sta. Cruz Adventure Club (LOGSAC) invites all mountain trekkers and enthusiasts to climb the Philippines’ highest peak, The Mount Apo, this September 25 to 28, 2008.
Come and join this adventure of a lifetime and enjoy new and captivating ranges of vision in Sta. Cruz such as Cabarisan Hanging Foot Bridge, Jugapong Falls, Tudaya Falls, Tinikaran Holding Camps, Bagobo-Tagabawa Cultural Communities, Mount Apo Boulder Face, Summit and Lake Venado.
Registration fee is only PhP 1,800.00 and includes:
Transportation from Davao City to Jump Off-Point and from Exit Point to Davao City
Climbing Permit
Exit Fee
Guide Fee
Certificate
Activity I.D.
SOUVENIR T-SHIRT
NOTE: Maximum of 30 slots will be accommodated on a First-Come-First-Serve basis.
If the adventurer in you feels like joining, get in touch with the mountaineers-organizers for inquiries and reservation:
Engr. ALBERT C. GABRIEL
MCTCA Vice-Pres for ECO-TOURISM
Sta. Cruz Tourism Office
Cel # 0919-3142117
e-mail: gaboskimsurf@yahoo.com
Mr. JULIUS R. PANER
LOGSAC President
Sta. Cruz Tourism Office
Cel #0920-8567991
e-mail: trekjulpanz@yahoo.com
Here is the second a final installment of an article on Kadayawan Festival. This article is contributed by a Davao-based Internet writer who goes by the pen name Dabawenyong Robot.
Did you know?
Formerly a Kadayawan staple, the Bagobo Horse Fight has been scrapped off the Kadayawan calendar in recent years. It is widely believed that the event was shelved because several activists protested the idea of horses fighting and maiming each other in front of thousands of spectators.
During its active years however, the horse fight was easily one of Kadayawan’s most popular events. It was usually held near the AGRO grounds right along Bolton bridge. Oddly enough, it was notorious among townsfolk not because of the sight of horses slugging it out with each other, but rather because in many instances these restless horses end up kicking their cruel human handlers. Ouch.
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Hiyas Ng Kadayawan
What’s a Kadayawan festival without the search for its Hiyas?
Last year’s search for Hiyas ng Kadayawan saw a total facelift in the mechanics of the pageant. Gone were the days when the criteria for the Hiyas and Mutya ng Dabaw were just almost the same. Also gone were the days that even male contestants could join in and march around the stage. Instead, we have intelligent and beautiful women representing each of the 10 indigenous groups, vying for the Hiyas crown. And it feels just right that way.
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Fruits, fruits and fruits.
The month of August also happens to be the time of ample harvest here in Davao. So expect lots and lots of fruits here in the city during the Kadayawan Festival. Durian, Mangoes, Papayas, Watermelon, Lanzones, Mangosteen, Pomelos and the like… Davao has them all. Lots and lots of them actually.
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Closed Entry Points
Certain roads in downtown Davao will be closed during the Floral Float Parade and the Indak-Indak. The roads usually closed are the intersections right along San Pedro street. So if you want to watch the Indak-Indak showdown just right outside the San Pedro Cathedral, you’ll have to park your car somewhere near the closed entry points and walk the walk.
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Anyway, that’s all for now. Unless dummies like you and me suddenly disappear from the surface of the earth, we’ll be back to give you more.
This article on Kadayawan is contributed by a Davao-based Internet writer who goes by the pen name Dabawenyong Robot.
Myth: The Kadayawan Festival is all about those pretty flowers, fresh fruits and tireless street dancing.
Fact: The Kadayawan Festival is actually a tribute to the indigenous people of Davao City. The flowers (showcased via the “Floral Float Parade”), fruits (oh so abundant in August) and street dancing (called the “Indak-Indak sa Dalan”) are connected to these people and therefore serves among the many highlights of the festival.
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Official Kadayawan press releases and articles are notorious for being too well-written, too deep, too rhetorical. Try reading three well-worded and vocabulary-testing paragraphs from these articles, and then tell us with a straight face if you get the idea right away.
If the answer is NO, don’t worry. You’re not alone. We feel that way, too. Thus we’re writing up this little sham of an article for dummies like us. And you.
Our aim is to let you understand the very basics of Kadayawan in the simplest, clearest way we can… heck we might even share a tip or two. Or maybe not.
Oh well, enough with that already. Let’s get on with the bloody thing.
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The annual Kadayawan Festival is one of the major events in Davao City, along with the Araw ng Dabaw. The latter celebration is a tribute to the city and the Dabawenyos in general.
This year’s festival will be held from August 18-24. However, some official Kadayawan-related events such as the AGRO Industrial Trade Fair (slated for August 8-31) and Kaan Dawet (starts August 17) will be held beyond that timeframe.
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The Kadayawan is a week-long celebration here in Davao City and features several events. Some of the events are way up in terms of grandiose, while some are rather of the solemn type but nonetheless as important.
The official Kadayawan events are those being conducted by the Kadayawan Committee. The Indak-Indak Parade is one, the Floral Float parade is another. The non-official events on the other hand, are conducted by outside sources but acknowledged by the Kadayawan Committee. The Kadayawan Fun Run by the Davao Sunday Runners Club Inc is an example of a non-official Kadayawan event.
Madayaw!
You will most likely encounter this term often during the festival. Madayaw is often USED to convey goodness, beauty, and marvel. So when someone says Madayaw Dabaw, he means to say: “Davao is great and wonderful!”
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The following are just some of the official events that are often considered as Kadayawan’s main attractions, especially for tourists looking to experience something unique and “truly Dabawenyo”. Now bring out the notes and jot these down.
Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan (Other variants of the name include: Indak-Indak sa Da’n/ Indak-Indak sa Dalan) - Street Dance Parade and Competition.
Moda Mindanaw - Fashion and Floral Design Competition
Sayaw Mindanaw - The Mindanao Dance Competition
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Aside from the events listed above, there will also be lengthy showcases featuring each of the recognized indigenous groups in the city. This is called the “Lumadnong Bantawan”. This event will be held at both the Rizal Park and People’s Park.
The indigenous groups that shall participate in these activities are:
Tribong Ata Manuvu
Tribong Kalagan
Tribong K’lata
Tribong Maguindanao
Tribong Maranao
Tribong Matigsalog
Tribong Sama
Tribong Tagabawa
Tribong Tausug
Tribong Ubo-Manobo
The New Kadayawan Commercial (see Kadayawan 2008 video, above) features representatives from each of the ten groups. If you want to personally see more about these tribes, you already know where to go.
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Indak-Indak and the Floral Float Parade
The two big parades of the festival are often held during weekends. This year’s Indak-Indak Parade will be held on Saturday, and the Floral Float Parade on Sunday.
The Indak-Indak has two main components. The first is the street parade, where performers groove it up while parading along selected points of the city. The second is the showdown, where the very same people perform on the same venue, which has traditionally been San Pedro Street. The parade normally takes place in the morning, the showdown from the afternoon to evening.
The Indak-Indak is wildly popular because of the distinctively Mindanaoan beat and costumes. Several tourists come to Davao to watch hundreds of people dancing with vigour in the streets, clad in their native attire and carrying extravagant props that would give Hollywood studios a serious run for their money.
The Floral Float Parade on the other hand, is a showcase not only of the best flowers and orchids that the city has to offer, but also brilliant Dabawenyo minds that never cease to run out of incredible ideas. Want to see giant replicas of animals the size of a truck made up of nothing else but flowers? No problem. Go watch the parade and you will see one.
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In Part 2 of this article, we will touch on some other related topics like the following:
Bagobo Horse Fight
Hiyas Ng Kadayawan — sort of a search for beauty and brains
Fruits (literally) of Davao
So please hang on tomorrow for the second installment of this series.
Previously, we featured the Island Tour Packages of Kahsan Tours — a travel agency based in Davao that focuses on Inbound Travel. For this article, let’s go back again to Davao City.
For the really, really first time visitors to Davao, assuming you don’t know someone here who can be your tour guide, it’s best to try the following tour packages from Kahsan Tours.
TOUR PACKAGE #7: SHOPPING TOUR WITH VISIT TO SPA
First stop is the famous Aldevinco Shopping Center. There you can change your Dollar, Euro, Yen, or some other acceptable currencies to the Philippine Peso, our local currency. Money Changers are all over the place and ready to do your Forex transaction in Davao. While at Aldevinco, you can shop around for Philippine native products like batik, intricately designed beads, colorful tubaos (head scarfs), abaca slippers, T’boli cloths and to other antique items. (Tip: Most items sold here are negotiable, so don’t be ready to accept the first price offer.)
After the Aldevinco Shopping Center, you will then check Tetel Tionko’s Shop. Tetel has carved a name in the European market for her delicately woven abaca cloth turned into placemats, table runners, throw pillo cases, blinds, wine holders, bags and other items. Just besides the shop is another shopping option with hand-painted jusi and pina blouses.
Then, off you go to Holiday Spa for some snacks from the kitchen of Chef Paddy and a soothing massage.
Tour Inclusions:
Aircon land transport with tour guide, snacks, entrance fees.
TOUR PACKAGE #8: EDEN NATURE PARK TOUR
Eden Nature Park is a mountain resort located at the foot of the Philippines’ highest peak, the Mount Apo. With its soothingly balmy atmosphere, a garden exploding with vibrant colors, a bird park, an enchanting forest and breathtaking view of the city, the Eden Nature Park is truly a must-see, must-experience destination in Davao.
And how about a buffet of organically grown vegetables for your lunch?
Tour Inclusions:
Entrance fees, buffet lunch at the park, aircon land transportation, tour guide, driver.
TOUR PACKAGE #9: DAVAO BY NIGHT
Experience Davao’s roaring night life. Pickup time is at 6:30 PM from your hotel. While taking dinner at the Taboan at the Matina Town Square, you will be entertained by some cultural presentations by Davao’s local artists. At 8:00 PM, you will have a coffee or after dinner drinks at Jack’s Ridge Restaurant for a breathtaking view of the city at night.
End the night with smiles and laughters as you proceed to Studio Onnie. There you will be entertained by Davao’s stand up comedians Tour Inclusions:
Tour Inclusions:
Aircon transportation, set dinner, entrance fee and drinks at Studio Onnie
Don’t forget to get in touch with the friendly staff of Kahsan Tour Travel Services. Call them up at 0063-082-225-4213.
In the previous article, you got a glimpse of what Kahsan Tours has to offer when it comes to Inbound Travel to Davao. There is more to their services than just City Tours and Countryside Tours.
In this second part, let’s explore the islands and see what Kahsan Tours has in store for you.
TOUR PACKAGE #3: ISLAND’S ULTIMATE BLISS
Take a dip or just get great tan at Isla Reta Beach Resort, Coral Garden, Isla Cristina, Fish Sanctuary or the Wishing Island. It’s all fun under the sun with lunch at the Pearl Farm. This package requires a minimum of 10 persons. Pickup time at the hotel is 7:30 AM.
Tour Inclusions:
Boat, service of a tour guide, user of five sets of snorkeling equipment, use of one kayak, refreshment, fruits and lunch at Pearl Farm.
TOUR PACKAGE #4: WILD WATER RAFTING
A day of exhilarating experience as you go down the rapids of mighty Davao River. Tour starts at 8:00 AM and ends at 5:00 PM.
Tour Inclusions:
Round trip transfers — hotel to Crocodile Park, RT Transfers from Park to jump-off site, packed lunch, experienced river guides and equipment.
TOUR PACKAGE #5: SCUBA DIVING
Get a chance to dive at the deep blue waters of the Davao: Davao Gulf-Ligid Island and Aundanao — considered to be the best diving sites in the region.
Tour Inclusions:
2 dives with Korean-, German-, or Japanese-speaking divemasters. Lunch will also be served.
TOUR PACKAGE #6: DAY TOUR OF PEARL FARM
This is perfect for those who are curious about the Pearl Farm Beach Resort. You’ve seen it on glossy TV commercials. You’ve probably read it in travel magazines. Now is your chance to visit the Pearl Farm Beach Resort, even for just a few moments. If you like it, you can always come back.
This particular tour package, the meeting place is the Marina Jetty in Lanang, Davao City. The boat leaves from Marina Jetty at 8:00 AM and leaves Pearl Farm at 4:00 PM on the same day.
Tour Inclusions:
Round-trip boat ride, welcome drinks, buffet lunch, free use of selected resort facilities.
There are more Kahsan Tour Travel Services to be featured in the next article. If want to try any of their tour packages, jot down the phone number now. It’s 0063-082-225-4213.
