LUMADNONG PASUNDAYAG

A Showcase of Indigenous Cultures

By Charles Balinggao

BSED - ENGLISH

They said that in order for us to move on and progress in our lives we should know first our roots. We should know where we came from and the contributions of our ancestors of where we were now. Thus, the Kadayawan festival had a Lumadnong Pasundayag wherein indigenous people who were the first settlers of Davao showcase their cultures and customs and how they were able to contribute in to our progress.

One of the highlights of the Kadayawan festival was the grand performance of the Indigenous people in Davao last August 18, 2012 at Davao Recreation Center. The event ignites Davaoneos appreciation of the native people who believed that Davao will go far.

10 indigenous tribes had shown their culture and customs and gave the people a glimpse of our roots as the people of Davao.  They were the Bagobo Klata, Kagan, Makitsalog, Sama, Obu – Manuvo, Tausug, Ata, Maguindanao, Tagabawa and Marano tribe. These tribes had shown the people of Davao and the foreign visitors their way of living and how they were able to preserve their culture while compensating the needs of this modern world.

Each performance was introduced by each tribe’s deputy mayor and their candidates of the Hiyas ng Kadayawan. Each tribes depicted different scenarios about courtship, marriage, hunting, harvest, war, and thanksgiving that were present in their beliefs and traditions. Festive music from indigenous musical instruments and songs from their own dialect were heard all over place.  Colors and shimmers were seen from the costumes wore by the performers of each tribe when they perform their ethnic dances.

The event was the evidence on the rich culture that we had in Davao thus the Kadayawan was one of the most visited festivals in the country. The event did not only display the practice of the culture of each indigenous tribe present in Davao but also display how they were able to live and be a part of a civilized society. They are now encouraging their children to go school and finish a college degree. They are also into the promotion of peace and order of Davao by resolving and eliminating internal conflicts within their tribe.

The Lumadnong Pasundayag was not only an entertaining event but also an informative one wherein we were encourage to give respect and reverence to the people who were the first to cultivate and improve the lands of Davao. Every Davaoenos were encouraged to give back to these indigenous tribes by respecting and looking up into them and their capabilities that they were also capable of contributing something great in the city.