Kadayawan Village: A Spectacle of Tribal Homes

One of the most memorable things I did during the recent Kadayawan Festival was to visit the Tribal Village at Magsaysay Park. The mini village created for the event was a spectacle of the tribal homes of Davao's 11 indigenous tribes.

My trip there was made more memorable by the presence of my two kids who went with me. I showed them around and somehow, we three got the chance to brush up on our Philippine history lessons particularly on the Mindanao tribes.

Davao, by the way, is home to 11 indigenous tribes. They are the Ata, Sama, Tagabawa, Ovu-Manuvo, Klata-Guiangan, Matigsalog, Kalagan, Maguindanaoan, Tausug, Iranun and Maranao.

Sharing here some photos of the tribal homes I took during our visit at the Kadayawan Cultural Village.

The Ata tribal house

The Maranao Tarogan house

The Iranun house 

The Tausug house 

Get to know Davao's 11 tribes here and where they live. Information was taken from  the Kadayawan 2017 issue of Kasayuran, a quarterly publication of the City Information Office (CIO).

Klata-Guiangan - This tribe lives in the areas stretching from Catalunan to Calinan.

Matigsalog - Known as the "river people," this tribe resides mostly in the hinterlands of Marilog, Marahan or Paguibato.

Ovu-Manuvo - From Ulas, this tribe eventually moved to the Talomo mountains even reaching Mt. Sinaka.

Ata - These "dwellers in highlands" can be found in Davao's Tuganay and Libugaan rivers.

Tagabawa - Also known as "people from the south," this tribe lives in the districts of  Marilog, Baguio, Calinan, Tugbok and Toril.

Kalagan - The Kalagans are known as "agriculturists" and practice farming and fishing.

Sama - This tribe resides in the coastal barangays from Bunawan to Toril.

Maguindanaoan - The Maguindanaoans are spread in the three districts of Davao City.

Tausug - Most of the Tausugs reside in the island of Sulu although some made Davao as their home.

Iranun - This Moro ethnic group  is originally from Maguindanao but members are now spread all over Mindanao.

Maranao - Known as "people of the lake," the Maranaos live in Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur.