Davao tribes' culture shines in Kadayawan’s ‘Lumadnong Dula’

Davao tribes’ culture shines in Kadayawan’s ‘Lumadnong Dula’

Bulatlat picture Indigenous people — SHARP EYE. A Klata-Manobo focuses on his target using his home-made bow and arrow.

DAVAO CITY – The 30th Kadayawan Festival highlights the “Lumadnong Dula” and it was participated in by five tribes in Davao City.

The game started with ritual chanting, tribal dance and a cultural presentation from each of the tribes namely, Ata-Manobo, Ovu-Manobo, Matigsalug, Tagabawa and Klata Manobo.

The tribal games aim to preserve the culture of the indigenous people which are slowly being forgotten.

Picture Indigenous people — SOLOPOT. A tribal member blows a solopot (blowgun) to hit a target. This weapon is also used in self-defense during tribal war.

Charles Raymond Maxey of the Davao City Sports Development Division under the City Mayor’s Office said the city is holding the Lumadnong Dula in observance of the United Nations’ Declaration of the Rights of the Indigenous Peoples on September 13, 2007.

“Based on that declaration of the United Nations last 2007, during its 61st session in New York, we came out with this idea. Our aim is to preserve the culture of the IPs,” Maxey said.

Bulatlat Photo Indigenous people — BUBUNTUG. One of the players during the Lumadnong Dula uses a spear to hit a ball made of coconut in the game called Bubuntug. Bangkaw or spear is also used for hunting wild boars by the lumads in the countrysides.

Close to 250 tribal residents joined the 12 tribal games where they displayed their skills. Among the games were water fetching (sosakoro or panikado), fire-making (totaringki or paning), tug of war using abaca rope and various target-hitting games namely sasalid, solopot and bubuntug.