KKK:Kiss and Kick of Kadayawan 2011

Alberto Egot Jr poses in the second placer float of Kisan Lu Lands where a mother breast feeds on a huge durian that symbolizes Davao city, nurturing its people for better tomorrow and to be progressive in all aspects of life.

One of the Kisan Lu Lands float highlights.Dancer rides on a suspended butterfly model.

In every show, spectators would kiss the organizer for the job well done. And, in every show there are critical minded spectators who would kick the organizer's butt for ruining the essence of the event. At the end of the day, these feedbacks from the audiences become an effective tool in determining the event's strength and weaknesses to find an opportunity as to how will the organizers improve the event next time. Here are the kiss and kicks of Kadayawan in the eyes of an event organizer and a davaoeño myself.  


KISS the ROAD
The Indak Indak sa kadalanan and the floral float parade are two big events that highlight Kadayawan. Two big road shows that can entice tourists and artists from neighboring regions to participate or personally witness the so-called KING OF FESTIVALS or THE FESTIVAL OF FESTIVALS. Keeping the grandeur of these two events in Kadayawan is a plus points to the organizers of Davao City.  The newly improved DUAW DAVAO's version of the said road events has marked a portion of Kadayawan history. The platform of Indak Indak for instance gave a full view of the performances towards spectators especially to those who were not able to get themselves closer to the stage. 
I would love to kiss the organizers for separating the open and davao base category in Indak Indak. With this, Davao participants would have a chance to bring big prizes at home  while dancers from the neighboring regions would have different yet bigger prizes.Just a question in my mind, why Davao City's participating schools cannot beat outsiders where in fact, we have all the means and talents? I wonder.


Another kiss to the deployment of Davao City Police Office,Task Force Davao, Anti Crime Unit, Public Command Center and the barangay police to all corners of Davao for ensuring the festival's peace and order. 


Generally, the Kadayawan was successfully organized until it was concluded last August 21,2011. All events were swiftly done. If Mayor Sara Duterte gives 8 out of a possible perfect score of 10, I would give it seven.The remaining 3 points are the factors that need to be improved and must be kicked out.


KICK THE 3 POINTS
Firstly, even before the Kadayawan started, Vice Mayor Rody Duterte slammed the kadayawan organizers for their impositions of coverage fee of P500 to photographers who have no media outlet. 


As a photographer myself I agree to what Digong has said that Kadayawan is a public festival. It would be unfair to photographers who cannot afford P500. Despite of Duterte's advices, the said fee was still realized which urged some photographers to react especially on social network like Facebook.


"An access pass for photographers and hobbyists cannot remedy obnoxious characters. It does not mean that because they are bearers of these passes then they suddenly become respectful toward other" pointed out by journalist Jepoi Tupas.


Definitely, we cannot buy etiquette in the market and laminated IDs cannot change one's characters.  To quote Alexander Rei Bao on his facebook," Hindi porket may all access pass ka na worth P500 ay may karapatan ka nang tabunan ang ibang photographers na nasa labas. Know your ethics in photography mga dudes"


On the third side of the coin,if there is one,an issue rose up when photographers who spent P500 pesos protested that there were people went beyond the barricades and took photos without passes. And, I personally witness the scenario. 


For me, if I were the organizers I would have offered food to both dogs and good 'maniniyots' for free. Less harm.Less issue. The only thing to do is to register their camera.


MY ULTIMATE VISION TO DAVAO CITY


While capturing moments in Indak Indak, I have also witnessed how pitiful davaoños were. Under the heat of the sun, they were fighting to find space behind the railings while aliens ( foreigners) were allowed inside the restricted areas. Some guys climbed on the tree and some were lucky enough to have seated in the limited benches. Others were trying to go over the barricades and went back outside if the marshals would catch them.


Definitely, there were few and most of them were VIPs who have fully witnessed the full beauty of Indak Indak. 


The new stage for performers looked like it was made for VIPs only. Pardon me, but I did not feel the celebration for this kind of set-up. It seems like these dancers prepared a world class presentations just to fully entertain DAVAO (VIPs). I wonder.


"Pila lng man ng lugar sa San Pedro. Gamay raman ang ma accomodate diha para makita jud ang kagwapo sa Indak Indak. Kung naa rapud ka street, igo lng mulabay, mukimbot gamai ang mga dancers. Naa jud sa Rizal Park ang gwapo, pero ang pangutana, makakita kaha ka ug tarong?" Kwek2 vendor shared his sentiment to me while I was partaking his stuff.

Tagum Capitol and its grand sports complex

This pointed me to an idea. What if the Kadayawan is not our festival. What if Tagum City possesses Kadayawan? Have you seen how huge Tagum's event area is? Have you gone to the magnificent capitol of Tagum?  Sorry but I have to compare it. I wonder.


While savoring the sourness of kwek2, these wild thoughts played around my brain. How can we be the KING OF FESTIVALS when we do not have an event area that can accommodate at least half of Davao's population? Why can't we make such mega structures like Tagum has?This is DAVAO CITY! I wonder.

This is the reason why I am not convinced with Kadayawan as KING OF FESTIVALS. How can we be a FESTIVAL of FESTIVALS when the authentic members of the TEN TRIBES could not even see the beauty of their cultures and dances because we cannot afford to bring them in the city? I am not saying Tagum itself is better than Davao itself because it is not. But in terms of public events like this, I would give my five stars to Tagum. I wonder.


This is my ultimate dream for Davao City when it comes to public festival like kadayawan. I am dreaming to have a huge and even bigger space with a stage at the center where lumads,bisayans and among other tribes of Davao enjoying around the stage in one VIBE and celebrating the real essence of KADAYAWAN -- UNITY! 


P.S. If Willie Revillame can stage a show pouring thousands of blessings to poor masses with full entertainment like what he did in the AGRO-FOOTBALL GROUND, why can't DAVAO bring the INDAK INDAK performance in that useless ground? Surely, it can accommodate thousands of davaoeños. I wonder.


PAMULAK FEST: Where are the flowers?


This is the second time around of Amiya by Kisan Lu Lands, where I am working with, to join the Pamulak Festival and consistently bagged the second place award. The achievement of this davao based company is priceless. Only Kisan Lu Lands, a local player, who have dared to battle against big players in an event like this. Obviously, the company wants to raise the flag of DAVAO!


What happened was, in my opinion, the game was not played very well. All of the contingents were depicting the bountiful Davao carrying the message of abundance, unity and representing Davao as rich source of beautiful FLOWERS. Really?


The creators of our float was forced to buy flowers in GENSAN because flower farms company was not giving anymore flowers for sale because allegedly they have been contracted by other companies.


 Now, where is the essence? Where is the so-called DAVAO's bounty?


Here comes my suggestion, flower farms company should not be exclusively executing any of the contingent because they are the main sources of flowers. From the word PAMULAK, obviously they are rich and well rounded about flowers. How pity local participants are?


Now, this is the challenge, if this would be the case, let us have a Davao Base category in Pamulak Fest. Question, aside from us, who will dare to join? I will keep my salute on you. If this is not feasible, well, this issue must be solved otherwise many davao base companies will be turned off and will not be joining. 


But the point is not being turning off. The essence of what we are proud of is losing its spirit. We could have showcased the flowers and plants that are really rooting in the land of DAVAO and not in GENSAN. I hope the organizers will take care of my suggestions.


Finally, infairness to Kadayawan Festival, its getting better and better each year. Senator Francis Escudero told the Davaoños during the Indak Indak that he have observed that Kadayawan in Davao has been improving. I will end this case by quoting him."Paganda ng paganda ang Kadayawan sa Davao, taon taon" said Sen.Escudero.


 I am looking forward as well for more battles of greatness ahead with fair justice. Madayaw Davao!