DAVAO CITY, Feb. 23 (PIA) - The 84th Araw ng Dabaw celebration will now be held online.

Ang atuang Araw ng Dabaw celebration karong tuiga will all be online so ang atong city tourism office nag andam na sila para sa online activities (Our Araw ng Dabw celebration this year will all be online so our City Tourism office has prepared for online activities), Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said during her Feb. 22 radio program at the Davao City Disaster Radio.

The Mayor also announced that the celebrations of Araw ng Dabaw will be on March 1 instead of March 16.

"Nabag-o na na siya (it was changed) based on the recommendations of the National Historical Commission that the Araw ng Dabaw is not March 16 but its March 1," the Mayor said.

This will be the first time that Araw ng Dabaw will be celebrated on March 1. Republic Act 11379 which changed the date of the City's charter anniversary to March 1 was signed into law in August of 2019. In 2020 the COVID pandemic forced the City Government to cancel major festivities and events which included the 83rd Araw ng Dabaw.

According to City Tourism Operations Office head Generose Tecson there was no more time to shift to an online celebration last year.

"This is the first time we're going virtual." Tecson said of this year's cityhood anniversary.

Only two events will be held face-to-face; the flag-raising ceremony and Misa Pasasalamat which will be attended by a few public officials owing to strict health protocols.

Mayor Duterte-Carpio hopes that people will enjoy the online program being prepared by the City Tourism Operations Office.

"So I hope that people will like their page and follow their page kay naa didto ang mga events tanan na gi-andam para sa atong araw ng dabaw celebration (all the events prepared for our Araw ng Dabaw celebrations are there) and you can enjoy it in the comforts of your home because you know there is a quarantine and you know there is a stay home order," The Mayor said.

Online Araw ng Dabaw

Via the Facebook page Araw ng Dabaw 2021 (www.facebook.com/Arawngdabawofficial) the public can access the schedules and also will be the digital platform of the various events.

On March 1 at 8:00 pm will be the OPENING CEREMONY. The following day on March 2 at 10:00 a.m. is TILAW DABAW followed by HUGYAW DABAW at 5:00 p.m. On March 3 at10:00 a.m. is OBRA DABAW followed by ISTILO DABAW on 5:00 p.m. On the same evening at 8:00 p.m. is a Pahalipay Smart 5G night.

Tilaw Dabaw is an online show that focuses on Davao City's cuisine from homegrown and classic restaurants, new concept and trendy food-selling style, Farm-To-Table and Halal Foods.

Hugyaw Dabaw will highlight talented and award-winning Dabawenyos who have shone in the field of music and have brought pride in prestigious competitions in both local and international stage.

Obra Dabaw shows the growing community and masterpieces of ARTS in Davao City by homegrown and award-winning artists.

Istilo Dabaw presents award-winning fashion designers who pull inspiration from the local traditions and cultural heritage of Davao.

Apart from online shows the social media page also promotes interaction with local netizens by crowdsourcing from Dabawenyos the various landmarks, tourist destinations and other notable locations in their barangays.

The online content promotes local dining establishments and the creative arts sector and features stories of perseverance and humanity in this period of the pandemic.

Generose Tecson said the much-anticipated online activities shows the pride and resiliency of Dabawenyos.

"The virtual Araw ng Dabaw provides us a message that nothing can stop us to be one, to be united and move forward, together. We just have to look for the means and ways how," the City Tourism head said. (PIA/RG Alama)