For someone who’ve been living in the city since brith, knowing about tribes and cultures could only be learned through textbooks, and/or television set or through the net. Developing an interaction with the real ones could also be difficult due to its proximity. We also do know that most of the tribes lives far away from urban villages in their way to preserved their old ways and cultures.
If learning about the arts and cultures excites you, for sure seeing and understanding a legit tribe could give you a bliss, but what if you can experience not only one but eleven of them, different tribes placed in one location?
Keep on reading and will tell you more about this village I just recently discovered.
It is a bit rare to happen that two or more different tribes unite and live harmoniously in one place. I guess that makes this Village a different experience. In Kadayawan Village located in Magsaysay Park, the eleven indigenous Lumad and Moro tribes of Davao City have mimic their homes and placed side by side to each tribe creating a peaceful living in one place. You might think that this is just an ordinary replica, but no! Each of the houses created are livable with an assigned family living on it. Members of the family are then tasks to just live how they used to be, giving everybody a glimpse of their history by experiencing and understanding more about their tribes. It was like a live musuem where travelers and observers can appreciate and learn more about the tribes cultural differences.
Kadayawan Village was launch in 2017 through the Davao City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO). I was lucky to have met as well Ms. Generose Tecson who heads the CTOO and was the one who accommodated us in this trip. I have learned from Ms. Tecson that they created this project in partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and turning Magsaysay Park into the city’s cultural and peace hub. (Also Read: Davao City’s Peoples Park)
Initially, Kadayawan Village was a one time turn, but with the village success, early this June 2018, Ms. Tecson confirmed that the houses will be arranged and relocated within the park in such a way that it would really look like a real village. This means that the next time you’ll visit Magsaysay park, you would be taken to small village showcasing 11 different cultures. And yes, Kadayawan Village will stay here for good!
I visited the place recently along with some of my blogger friends. We were lucky on that day for two of the tribes have prepared something for us to experience. The Obu-Manuvu and Matisalug tribe prepared a dance routine and a cookings session for us to see. Both are part of the Lumad tribes as well as the Bagobo-Klata, Ata,and Bagobo-Tagabawa. The other 6 tribes are part of the Moro which includes Sama, Maranao, Kagan, Iranun, Maguindanaon, and Taosug. All of which are original inhabitants of Davao City.
With our Tour Guide Kuya Jojo and Blogger friends Juan Manila, Ted Claudio, Aci Bornea and Azrael Colladila
Davao City government has setup a Kadayawan Market in the certer where other products and produce from Davao City can be availed. Merchandise and other by products of each of the tribes are also being sold in the area. You can also visit each of the houses to purchase items they produce or created.
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