The voices of the city’s 11 tribes resonated in unity during the Deputy Mayors Convention held on May 12, 2026 at Malagos Garden Resort, a gathering intended to reinforce cultural preservation and strengthen collaboration among indigenous leaders.
The convention brought together deputy mayors representing each of the city’s tribes for a day of dialogue, planning, and cultural exchange.
Willenito P. Tormis Jr., Officer-in-Charge of the City Tourism Operations Office told the City Information Office (CIO), that the convention serves as a vital step in ensuring that tribal voices remain central in shaping Davao’s cultural landscape.
“Ang Deputy Mayors Convention kay nag gather mi og deputy mayors sa 11 tribes. So, naa tanan, represented. Nag conduct mi og pre-assessment for the upcoming Kadayawan festival. Kay gusto man nato nga mas ma preserve ug mas ma highlight ang ilahang kultura. Aside ana nga planning is nag plano pod ta for mga activities nga buhatan sa atoang Tribal Village, unsay mga buhaton nga enhancement, nag propose sad ang mga deputy mayors kung unsaon pag enhance sa experience sa atoang mga travelers didto (The Deputy Mayors Convention gathered deputy mayors from our 11 tribes. So, everyone is represented. We conducted a pre-assessment for the upcoming Kadayawan festival because we want to better preserve and highlight their culture. Aside from that planning, we are also planning activities to be held in our Tribal Village, what enhancements to make, and the deputy mayors have also proposed ways to enhance the experience of our travelers there),” he said.
At the same time, the gathering served as a pre-assessment for Kadayawan 2026, with leaders discussing ways to elevate the Kadayawan Tribal Village into a more immersive and authentic showcase of tradition for Dabawenyos and visitors alike.
Tormis emphasized that the convention carried a clear purpose, which is to protect the city’s cultural heritage and ensure that it continues to thrive for generations to come.
“Gusto gyud namo nga makipag collaborate sa atoang 11 tribes kung unsaon pa pag improve sa atoang offerings for tourism sector and grabe pod akong pasalamat kay grabe pod nila ka collaborative and appreciative. Kani siya, naa gyud ni siyay purpose because we really need to do it kay para ma preserve gyud pod nato atoang kultura up until this day (We really want to collaborate with our 11 tribes on how to improve our offerings for the tourism sector, and I am very grateful because they are also very collaborative and appreciative. We need to conduct this convention in order to preserve our culture up until this day),” Tormis added. CIO
Written by: N. Malasado
Edited by: A. Nawal
Photo by: Davao City Tourism Operations Office