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Here are some photos of the Kadayawan sa Dabaw 2009 festivities, taken by Jaime Haw.

And here are a few blog posts and news items that have been published online:

• Ginoong Kadayawan 2009
• The Revolution that started in Kadayawan 2009
• Darna flies to Davao for Kadayawan 2009
• Kadayawan 2009 by Councilor Mabel Acosta
• 2009 Kadayawan sidelines: indak-indak
• 2009 Kadayawan sidelines: Pamulak
• Mayor Rody & Inday Sara – Kadayawan football results

[Media Release]

Araw ng Dabaw, the city’s celebration of its 72nd charter anniversary, officially opens on 9 March 2009, 4:00 PM with the “DAWOW” Grand Opening Ceremony at Quezon Park (in front of City Hall).

The program will kick off with a musical presentation by the Davao Community Band and Blue Velvet Band, followed by a prayer to be rendered into song by the Davao Boys Choir, Matina Central ES Choir and UIC Chorale. A thanksgiving prayer will be led by Carlito Guinto, Jr., representing the indigenous community, Samrah Nuh, representing the Muslim community, and Archimedes Udaundo, representing the Christian community, symbolizing the city’s multi-cultural population.

After the prayers, “Bahaghari Tayo”, the celebration’s official theme, will be performed by popular Dabawenyo artist and the song’s composer Popong Landero, together with the Davao Community Band, Blue Velvet Band and the Kaliwat Theater Collective. Kaliwat Theater Collective, Davao Community Band, Blue Velvet Band, Davao Boys Choir, Matina Central ES Choir, UIC Chorale, Madayaw Cultural Troupe, and students from Magallanes Elementary School will then share the stage for the “Dabaw: Sulyap Salaysay” production number.

Mr. Sammy Uy, this year’s co-chairperson of the celebration’s Executive Committee (EXECOM), will deliver the Pagpapasalamat speech while City Councilor Myrna Dalodo-Ortiz and Mr. Lafayette Lim, EXECOM vice-chairperson will talk about the theme and introduce the EXECOM members of this year’s celebration.

This will be followed by the “Ang Dakilang Pangako” number to be performed by local artist Juliet Bahala together with the Davao Boys Choir, UIC Chorale, Matina Central ES Choir, Blue Velvet Band, Davao Community Band and Kaliwat.

City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte, who is the chairman of Araw ng Dabaw 2009 EXECOM, will deliver the celebratory address while Councilor Ortiz will raise the theme along with EXECOM co-chairperson Mr. Samuel Uy.

The program, to be hosted by Oscar Casaysay and Mutya ng Dabaw 2004 Aileen Cainglit, will close with the community singing of the “Tayo’s Dabawenyo”.

The 72nd Araw ng Dabaw celebration highlights include the Museo Dabawenyo DUHWOW : DABAW Exhibit Opening (March 10, 10 AM, Museo Dabawenyo), Kalasikas Cultural Performances (March 10-16, 6-9 PM, People’s Park), PAGTUGYAN: Yuchengco Scholarship Program Launching (March 12, 3 PM, Rizal Park), Unveiling of Datu Bago Mural (March 12, 5 PM, Museo Dabawenyo), SALIDAbaw: MTV Finals (March 13, 3 PM, Gaisano Mall), Mutya ng Dabaw Coronation Night (March 14, 6 PM, CAP Auditorium), Sayawan sa Da’n (March 15, 2-8 PM, from Legazpi St., Rizal St., Bolton St., San Pedro St., to City Hall Drive), Pasasalamat :Thanksgiving Mass (March 16, 6 AM, San Pedro Cathedral), Parada Dabawenyo (March 16, 8 AM-12 NN, from Magsaysay Ave., CM Recto Ave., Bonifacio St., Legaspi St., San Pedro St., to Quimpo Blvd.), Banda Hudyaka : Showdown Presentation (March 16, 2 PM, People’s Park), Dickies presents: Pahalipay ni Mayor Concert featuring Slapshock (March 16, 7 PM, Rizal Park). On-going events include the Agri-Trade Fair (February 28-Macrh 16, SM City Grounds), Hudyakaan: Street Food Festival (March 9-16, 4 PM-2 AM, Bolton St., beside Sanguniang Panlungsod), and Chinatown Night Market (14-16 March, 6 PM-2 AM, R. Magsaysay Ave.).

For more information, visit www.arawngdabaw.com and www.mutyangdabaw.com.

Araw ng Dabaw will be upon us again in March 2009. This year is the 72nd anniversary of the city’s foundation day, and the theme is “Pagtupad sa Dakilang Pangako“. For more information about Davao City’s history, please see the relevant entry in Wikipedia.

Here is the Calendar of Activities, courtesy of the City Tourism Operations Office. The official date of Davao City’s foundation day is 16 March, but there are many events scheduled around this date (including the 2nd Davao Food Appreciation Tour).

After introducing an air ticket booking service that’s completely online and automated, Cebu Pacific has introduced new features into their Web-based reservation system. This is one thing that I’ve long been pining for ever since I started using this airline’s Web site: the facility to not only book tickets but reserve seats as well. And now they have it.

Booking for my flight to Manila in October, I noticed that the Web site’s interface had undergone slight changes — some layout changes and minor improvements in the user interface. Then I was pleasantly surprised when I was presented with the Seat Selector screen (screen capture below).

It’s pretty neat! But, it’s a premium service — meaning, it ain’t free. After choosing my preferred seats, I noticed an extra charge of P448 on my total airfare. Oh well. Anyway, reserving seats isn’t compulsory. But at least passengers now have a choice, especially people who are particular about seating, like me.

Another change that I’ve noticed is an option to prepay for excess baggage. I find it deplorable that Cebu Pacific lowered the baggage allowance to 15kg per passenger on domestic flights, and this new online service doesn’t really alleviate the pain. However, I do appreciate it that the airline has put in place this measure that makes it less of a hassle for passengers to check in.

CebuPacificAir.com also now has a way for passengers to donate to the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF-Philippines). To quote: “Your donation will be used to support the WWF-Philippines climate adaptation work in Mindoro. The amount is based on the estimated carbon dioxide emission versus the actual flight distance being purchased.”

Kudos to Cebu Pacific!