News & Blogs

by RG Alama

Davao City  — All systems are go for the 2009 staging of the Kadayawan Festival in Davao, which is touted as the festival of all festivals.

Patricia Ruvivar secretariat of the Kadayawan Festival Steering committee has said that no less than City Mayor Rodrigo Duterta has stressed that he wants to make this Kadayawan as the most memorable, since this is the last Kadayawan before his term of office ends.

The festival will carry the theme, Naghiusang katawhan, nakigdagit sa Kalibutan” (One People in communion with the earth) and will this August 17 to 23.

Carrying out to become a memorable festival, Kadayawan will be done in two components; one component is the Lumadnong Kasaulogan (Indigenized Peoples Festival) and the other part is the Subay sa Lumadnong Kagikan (Indigenized Peoples Celebration).

The purpose of the two components is that aside from being a major tourist attraction, it recognizes that Kadayawan is a festival that celebrates the city’s indigenous peoples, its diverse cultures, and its unique arts and crafts and where it is mindful of the indigenous peoples’ need to assert their rights to self determination and cultural preservation while peacefully co-existing with the city’s migrant settlers.

The Festival will open on August 17 with an event called Duhwow Davao at the Agro Field. Major events include Tunog Mindanaw (World Music Festival), Moda Mindanao (Fashion competition), Hulagway sa Kaliwatan (visual arts exhbit), Sayaw Mindanaw, Tugtugan sa Kahiusan (Mindanao Indigenous Music Festival), Indak-indak sa Kadalanan and the much anticipated Pamulak sa Kadayawan (floral float competition).

According to Ruvivar, despite the global financial crisis, the festival has not been downgraded as the festival budget from last year of P15-million has not been changed. They are also expecting strong private sector support for the festival.

City Tourism Operations Officer Bong Aportadera said that they are monitoring for erring tourism establishments since this will be the time when many tourists will come. He said he expects high standards from these establishments particularly on hygiene, cleanliness and service as their sustained efforts to promote Davao City will go in vain if these establishments are not up to par.

Aside from tourists, the City is also preparing to accommodate an influx of indigenous people who are invited to showcase their culture and traditions among the residents and visitors.

Ruvivar also said that the Chinese community will also participate in the Kadayawan as various events like night markets are marked inside Davao Chinatown during the duration of the festival.

She said that Kadayawan will show that Davao is a unique place since it has the highest concentration of a diverse cultural group which is fully integrated into a cosmopolitan and multicultural city. (PIA XI)

By Mai Gevera

Davao City — Small and medium enterprises in Davao City may now easily simulate, test, and hold technology solutions fit for their business with the setting up of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) Innoport.

The Innoport is a portable version of the Innolab or Innovation Laboratory which is the central technology hub for small and medium entrepreneurs to match and test solutions right for their business.

“We are bringing in our Innolab through setting up Innoport in key cities of the country. We want our SMEs easily find access to the various business solutions that our company is offering to help their businesses.” said PLDT SME Group Head Katrina Abellarde.

The Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc (DCCII) is one of the many partners of the PLDT in promoting SME Nation. Its main goal is assist private businesses by providing technical assistance to SMEs in the city.

PLDT considers Davao as its most formidable partner seeing a very encouraging response from the local SMEs. Abellarde shared that most of the SMEs briefed about the PLDT products were usually surprised and excited to apply such solutions in their own business systems.

Data showed that about 10,000 SMEs in Mindanao have started integrating such technology to improve their business management.

DCCCII President Simeon Marfori considers this partnership as a major leap in terms of providing better services to their membership.

“I believe most of our SMEs still need to be aware of these business solutions,” he said.

SME Nation has gathered about 50 partners nationwide and it continues to aim for a globally competitive SME community through advanced usage of ICT.

Abellarde announced the company’s move of introducing new and improved business solutions this month. (PIA XI)

By Mai Gevera

Davao City  — Department of Tourism XI now focuses on the cultural uniqueness of the Davao region.

“Think Davao first.” This was the statement of DOT XI Regional Director Sonia Garcia as she urged Dabawenyos to appreciate the historical roots and diversified growth of the region.

DOT XI is holding DUHWOW: carving the shared history and advancing the cultural uniqueness indigenous to the Davao Region, Now and Beyond.

It is a thematic exposition which will unfold in the two galleries of the Museo Dabawenyo starting this month until July.

DOT has partnered with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts in this cultural-education and heritage-promotion of the Davao region.

It aims to raise the cultural literacy among the diverse population. The exhibit will pinpoint significant windows in the shared history and common heritage of the people.

The exposition will be participated by seven mini-exhibitions to be co-anchored by a particular local government unit.

This month, the shared roots and diverse developmental routes of the undivided Davao will be showcased.

March is for the local history and the empowerment of the deputies in the most-livable Davao City.

On April, the province of Davao Oriental will show its cultural heartland, landmarks, lifestyle, and living treasures.

Davao del Norte will showcase its expanding business hub and advancing gateways in eco-cultural adventures on May along with Davao del Sur’s wealth and wonders.

Compostela Valley will have its turn to show the centuries of gold on June while the culminating exhibition focuses on the present Davao region—celebrating its cultural diversity and multi-polar developments. (PIA XI)