Tagum City to Host Grandest IP Fest

Tagum City is boosting itself as one of the emerging cultural hubs in the Philippines as it gathers 440 indigenous peoples from the different parts of the country for the Dayaw: Indigenous Peoples Festival 2011, under the auspices of the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts' Subcommission on Cultural Communities and Traditional Arts and Mindanawon Foundation.

The festival focuses the spotlight on the country's indigenous peoples, celebrating their arts and ways of life, discussing important issues and making more and more  people aware of the richness and importance of indigenous cultures.

Dayaw will showcase their rituals, performing arts, cuisines, games, crafts and others. Additionally, they will be joined by delegates from Southeast Asian countries in simultaneous exchange and interactive activities such as performances, exhibitions, forums, lecture-demonstration, workshops on traditional crafts and cuisines and indigenous games.

This year, Dayaw aims to celebrate the cultures of the Filipino people as well as those of the visiting foreign delegates by "understanding the commonalities of the various indigenous peoples". It also aims to "strengthen/broaden the awareness, appreciation and pride of all Filipinos for our own traditional culture in the context of cross-cultural interactions in a global society".

With the theme "Paghabi ng Ating Pagkakatulad Tungo sa Kapayapaan" (Interweaving Our Commonalities Towards Peace), the festival features five (5) components such as Tanghalang makulay ( a ritual and performing arts festival), Salu-salong Sarap ( a food and breverage festival), Mga Habi ng Panaginip ( an arts and crafts exhibit, focusing on basketry, textile and mat weaving), Sama-sama sa Tuwa (indigenous games), and Usapang Dangal at Likhang Paghayag (forum and creative workshop on peace and unity).

The Energy Park in Barangay Apokon will be the main venue for the said festival. Outreach programs will also be held in Davao City and some towns in the provinces of Davao del Norte and Compostella Valley. Taking the lead on the preparation of Dayaw is the Tagum City Tourism Council, headed by its President, Mrs. Alma L. Uy.

The Dayaw  celebration is in consonance with the Presidencial Proclamation 1906, declaring October as National Indigeous Peoples Month in the Philippines.