Pamulak sa Dalan Kadayawan Floral Float Parade in Davao City

Pamulak Kadayawan Floaral Float with Giant Fish.

Millions of flowers adorning giant people, colorful fruits and vegetables adding to the allure of the floats, tourists and locals excitedly waiting in the sidewalks and camera bulbs flashing at every opportunity: these are scenes typical in every Pamulak sa Dalan in Davao City. It was a visual feast aimed to please everyone who takes to the streets; even those who stay in the homes stare in awe at the television sets.

Pamulak sa Dalan (Floral Float Parade) is one of the last highlights of the annual Kadayawan sa Dabaw Festival which is now on its 27th year. The festival is a celebration of the bountiful harvest, unity amidst tribal diversity and eternal beauty of the city’s people. The Pamulak is a shining monument of all that the Kadayawan Festival is about. Flowers, fruits, tribes and Dabawenyos take center stage during the event.

The parade is one of the most-awaited highlights of the festival. As early as seven in the morning, locals and tourists alike started milling around in the city’s main streets, eagerly waiting for the gigantic floats to arrive. Roxas Avenue was filled with photographers and enthusiasts just like the previous day when the Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan was staged.

Contingents for the Pamulak Festival mostly came from the private sector. Companies that continually support the city’s activities exerted efforts to create grandiose floats to compete in the small, big or non-motorized category. The half a million cash prize was a mere incentive for these people; the excitement and pleasure of joining in the festivities is usually more than enough.

Kisan Lu Lands, a homegrown real estate development company won the grand prize for the Big Category. Their entry was a standout: giants dressed in ethnic garb and huge durian halves with real people dancing on them. To a spectator, the float looked perilous to the dancers. For one thing, they were on a durian-shaped stage which was pretty narrow. And then their mini-stages were mounted on a pole attached to the main float. It was a sight to behold and it was no surprise that they bagged the grand prize. It was only a matter of time; Kisan Lu Lands has been competing for the past two years, placing second on both occasions.

Here are the winners of the competition:

Big Category:

Kisan Lu Lands winning float at Pamulak sa Dalan in Davao City, Philippines.

1st Place – Kisan Lu Lands, Inc.
2nd Place – International Pharmaceutical, Inc. (IPI)
3rd Place – DMMA College of Southern Philippines

Small Category

1st Place – Villar Foundation (CSR Arm of Camella Homes)
2nd Place – Synnex Concentrix Corp.
3rd Place – Sr. Sto. Niño de Davao

Non-motorized Category:

1st Place: Davao Horse Club
2nd Place: Dingredients
3rd Place: Barangay Councilors League of the Philippines Davao Chapter

There were more than 20 competing and non-competing floats that graced the parade. And of course there were movie stars who elicited squeals and shouts from the admiring crowds. The 10 tribes of Davao also joined in the revelry; natives in their traditional costumes proudly paraded through the streets, inspiring awe from the city-dwelling spectators.

Just like the Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan, the Pamulak sa Dalan became a magnet for tourists and photographers from all over the world. The flowers, fruits and vegetables painted the city with a million colors. Kadayawan is a festival like no other and it will continue to amaze the world in the years to come. Enjoy the photos!