Davao City - The indigenous people of Davao City will be the focus of the 2008 Kadayawan Festival but their participation will not just end in the parade because the city government is working on a sustaining various program for them.
Davao City Tourism Operations Office officer-in-charge Giovanni Aportadera said the the IPs play an important role in promoting the festivities as the ten deputy mayors represented by the 10 tribes here were the focus of the first marketing ads regarding the Kadayawan Festival.
But Aportadera said that before they were involved in the promo campaign these leaders were first consulted and it was explained to them the importance of their participation. He said they are the ideal persons to talk about the culture of Davao and promote the diverse tradition that the IPs has been practicing up to this time.
The first cut of the promo campaign already got the nod of the airline industry namely Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific and Air Philippines. The video ads will be shown inside the aircraft and their outlets and in airport terminals.
Aportadera said PAL will show the video materials in all their flights both domestic and international. He said Filipino travel agents that are based abroad also agreed to show the material in their respective outlets in their offices particularly in Europe.
During the festival there will be a "Kaan Mindanao" where different tribal groups will showcase their food and how it is being prepared. But this also needs careful coordination because these groups are used to environment in natural setting that is why they had to select the appropriate place for them to execute their respective food preparation and exposition, he said.
The earlier plan to hold it at the Rizal Park will no longer be carried, he said. Aportadera meanwhile said that as far as the tourism programs of their office is concerned, a big chunk of it will go to the IPs.
"We are conceptualizing sustainable programs and engage them in activities that would help them and their community through tourism base services," he said.
He said they want to emphasize that tourism is also about natural resources and the environment and their office is trying to come up with activities that would promote what is basic. During the holding of the Kadayawan Festival here he said major activities will still be held like the Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan (street dancing), Pamulak (floral float parade), World Music Festival, the Kaan Mindanao, Kaan Dawit, Pasasalamat ni Mayor. by Prix D Banzon
Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph (June 28, 2008)