- Davao City ready for Kadayawan Festival 2025
THE KADAYAWAN Festival 2025 preparations are in full swing as it is set to open on Aug. 8, with P3.3 million waiting for the grand winners of the culminating categories—the street dancing and floral float parade on Aug. 17.
“For the preparations of Kadayawan, everything is in full swing as we are nearing the event,” City Tourism Operations Office acting head Atty Jonah Margarette Presto said during the media launch on Thursday.
For Indak-Indak sa Kadayawan or the street-dancing competition, contingents for the open category and Davao City schools category each will win P1 million with a plaque, and 150 medals up for grabs. The second placer will receive P500,000; third place (P400,000); fourth place (P300,000); fifth place (P200,000), and 10 consolation prizes of P50,000 each.
The winners of special awards–Best in Music, Best Choreographer, and Best in Artistic Design–will receive P50,000 for each.
For Pamulak sa Kadayawan or the float competition, P500,000 is up for grabs for the grand winner for the small category. This is followed by P400,000 for second prize; P300,000 for third prize, with trophies and four consolation prizes of P75,000 each.
Meanwhile, for the big category, the grand winner will bring home P800,000; second place (P600,000); third place (P400,000), all with trophies and four consolation prizes of P100,000 each.
The budget for this year’s edition amounted to about P60 million from the local government and P14 million from the private sector for both x-deal and in cash.
Nicole Hao Bian Ledesma, Davao Tourism Association president, said the amount is subject to increase as the private sector is still negotiating with entities for more sponsorships.
In terms of renovation of the cultural houses in the Magsaysay Park, which is one of the highlights, the city government earmarked P3.5 million, including the rehabilitation of the facilities to accommodate the tourists.
The Agung ug Kulintangan is back to the usual highlight events: Hiyas sa Kadayawan- search showcasing the beauty of the 11 tribes, Indak-Indak sa Kadayawan; Pamulak sa Kadayawan; and Dula sa Kadayawan. Agung ug Kulintangan was removed from the official list in 2024.
“We added the Agung ug Kulintangan to showcase the musical highlights of each culture of the 11 tribes,” Presto said.
Oscar Casaysay, Davao City Culture and the Arts in charge, said this year’s Kadayawan will focus not only on the 11 indigenous and Moro tribes but the culture and arts sector.
“This year we are bringing back to showcase the past winners, and they are going to have a back-to-back event on the Indigenous Peoples Day and Agung ug Kulintangan sa gabii,” Casaysay said.
