Kadayawan Indak Indak performer © Jojie Alcantara

“Even though fixed in time, a photograph evokes as much feeling as that which comes from music or dance. Whatever the mode – from the snapshot to the decisive moment to multi-media montage – the intent and purpose of photography is to render in visual terms feelings and experiences that often elude the ability of words to describe. In any case, the eyes have it, and the imagination will always soar farther than was expected”. – Ralph Gibson

Colors of Kadayawan sa Dabaw 2012
Photography © Jojie Alcantara

(an excerpt from my article)

I am lucky to have spanned a decade of covering Mindanao’s most colorful and biggest festival in the islands. Through my work in the media as a TV anchor, columnist and photographer, I have been able to document more than a bird’s eye view of the dazzling pomp and spectacle that is Davao’s Kadayawan Festival, which earned its prestige as one of the most beautiful ethnic celebrations in the country.

With this year’s theme of “Ten Tribes, One Vibe”, the city has fully embraced the legacy of our ethnicity and diversity, while paying respects to the traditional rituals of our ancestors in thanksgiving to spirits who watch over our domain and the bounty of harvest that we are blessed to be receiving.

Kadayawan, from the dialect “madayaw” meaning well and good, is a celebration of the goodness and harmony in life. I share with you my photos from a lucky proximity and vantage perspective.

If you find my festival photos interesting, you can view more on my Pbase Gallery or on my Facebook.

(Jojie Alcantara is a travel writer and photographer who also anchors the live coverage of Kadayawan Festival parade every year on SkyCable. This year she opened the live streaming coverage of SunStar Davao and Sunnex with Smart Communications LTE advanced technology, bringing Kadayawan to the world. Visit her blog www.dabawenya.net or find her on Facebook).