The Kadayawan Festival 2025 might have concluded on August 17, 2025 but the celebration of Davao City’s indigenous heritage is far from over.
The Kadayawan Tribal Village continues to operate throughout the year, allowing Dabawenyos and visitors alike to immerse in the culture and traditions of the city’s 11 ethnolinguistic groups.
Located at the Magsaysay Park, Kadayawan Village is home to the traditional houses of the five (5) Indigenous People (IP) groups and six (6) Moro groups of the city.
Representatives from the 11 ethnolinguistic groups are present in the houses, ready to educate guests about their culture and heritage.
Visitors may also purchase the products of the 11 ethnolinguistic groups in the village as several items remain displayed in the houses.
Atty. Jonah Margarette Presto, Officer-in-Charge of the City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO), said during the ISpeak Media Forum that discussions with the deputy mayors and city council are underway to institutionalize the Kadayawan Village.
Part of the institutionalization plan is the year-round sustainable operation of the Kadayawan Village.
Partnering with the city’s culture and the arts office, the CTOO aims to also codify accurate data and information on the city’s 11 ethnolinguistic groups.
“Mao to ang part sa institutionalization, not just the tourism part nga maapil ang tribal village as part of the [tourism] circuit in the city, but also to be accurate about it so it has to be backed by study (Part of the institutionalization is not just the tourism aspect where we aim to put the tribal village in the city’s tourism circuit, but also to ensure accuracy of data and information so it has to be backed by study),” Presto said.
She added that this year’s Kadayawan Festival celebration gave emphasis on abundance in all its forms, and the vibrant colors of the cultures and heritage of the ethnolinguistic groups told through music and dance.
“We are really going back kung unsa g’yud ang tumong sa Kadayawan. We are going back to the cultural and traditional side of Kadayawan [highlighting] more on the 11 tribes and not just on the event itself (We’re back to the cultural roots of Kadayawan that really showcases the cultures and traditions of the 11 ethnolinguistic groups, not just on the festival itself),” Presto said. CIO
