A Close Encounter With Davao's Indigenous Tribes

The Kadayawan sa Davao is one festival that most Dabawenyos look forward to, myself included (although I'm not really a full-fledged Dabawenya just a self-proclaimed adopted one). There are many reasons to be excited about this mother of festivals and these include the various events lined up by the city government and its partners every year.

This year, I made sure to visit the Kadayawan Village at Magsaysay Park. What made my trip there more exciting was the presence of my two children whom I brought along last Wednesday. From the entrance, the festive mood at the cultural village  was already felt. There was a long line of people, young and old, wanting to get inside and see up close the tribal houses of Davao's 11 indigenous tribes and the tribesmen as well.

Being there felt like I was brushing up on Philippine History lessons particularly on the tribes in Mindanao. I finally get to be up close with Davao's indigenous tribes, see how their houses and native costumes look like and get to know their lifestyles. The atmosphere during my visit was so lively and so fitting of the Kadayawan Festival which pays tribute to a bountiful harvest and the rich culture of Davao's lumads. Sharing here some snapshots of the different tribesmen and women I met.

 

During our visit, there was also a game being played at the open space. It was called Sipa Salamat, the sipa version of the Muslim people. What made it unique was that the male adult players had a small square plywood attached to one of their ankles. When the sipa ball made of rattan hits the plywood while a player kicks it, a loud popping sound is created (similar to a pyrotechnic). This makes the game more interesting and attention-grabbing.

Sipa Salamat (sipa version of the Muslims)

With the lumads from the Ovu-Manuvo tribe. 

Not many people know that Davao is home to 11 different indigenous tribes or lumads (Cebuano term for natives) as what they're more known. It is the only province in the Philippines to have the most number of tribal communities. These 11 tribes are the Ata, Sama, Tagabawa, Ovu-Manuvo, Klata-Guiangan, Matigsalog, Kalagan, Maguindanaoan, Tausug, Iranun and Maranao.