DAVAO CITY – The city government here has banned street parties and concerts during this year’s Kadayawan, with leaders here pushing for the promotion of Lumads and Muslims in the downtown area instead.
Acting Mayor Paolo Duterte prohibited street parties and concerts in downtown Davao during the Kadayawan Festival celebration.
The Kadayawan Festival, traditionally a celebration of harvest and the multiplicity of cultures in Davao City, is scheduled on the third week of August.
The order is consistent with the festival’s central theme this year – that is to focus on the plight of the 11 tribes of Davao City.
Events to be held in public parks and other public places should only highlight the culture and traditions of the Lumads and the Muslims, said Duterte.
But concerts and street parties may be held outside the downtown area.
For the first time, the executive committee of the Kadayawan 2016 convened Wednesday morning to plan out this year’s festival.
In a meeting with the members of the execom, Duterte ordered them to organize events that would highlight the city’s various ethnic groups. He earlier described the Indigenous Peoples and Muslims as the heart and soul of Kadayawan.
“I want the Poblacion area free from loud noise – from concerts and parties,” he said. “Let us get away from these activities. Let us instead hold these events outside the downtown area.”
The city government intends to invite performers and artists who promote the culture of the people of Davao and Mindanao such as Popong Landero, Joey Ayala, Bayang Barrios and other homegrown talents. (YAS OCAMPO)
