Davao City officials have officially clarified that the scheduling of the annual Parada Dabawenyo for March 28, 2026, was not deliberately planned to coincide with the birthday of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte. This statement comes amid ongoing public attention surrounding the city's month-long Araw ng Dabaw celebrations and their potential political implications.
Official Clarification on Scheduling
Willenito Tormis Jr., officer-in-charge of the Davao City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO), emphasized during the Araw ng Dabaw press launching on February 19, 2026, that the date alignment was purely coincidental. "We really didn't plan it, to be honest," Tormis stated. "We also didn't intend for it to be part of the month-long celebration. If it happens to be FPRRD's birthday, that's purely a coincidence."
Month-Long Celebration Structure
Tormis explained that the expansion of Araw ng Dabaw into a month-long celebration resulted from the addition of the Ironman event during the third week of March. This created a pattern of having a highlight activity every week throughout March. Consequently, the Parada Dabawenyo was moved to the final week of the month.
Originally, the parade was scheduled for March 29, 2026, which would have marked the last day of celebrations. However, this date conflicted with Palm Sunday, leading organizers to select March 28, a Saturday, as a more suitable alternative for the community event.
Political Neutrality Directive
The executive committee overseeing Araw ng Dabaw has explicitly encouraged participants to avoid displaying political signs and symbols during the parade. Oscar Casaysay, head of the Office of Culture and the Arts, revealed that Davao City Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte issued a marching order to refrain from incorporating anything political into the event.
Casaysay further explained that initial plans to include former President Duterte in an audio-visual presentation were discouraged by the mayor. This decision aligns with the organizers' stated goal of making the Araw ng Dabaw celebration "people-centric" and focused on community participation rather than political messaging.
No Official Birthday Events Planned
When questioned about accredited events celebrating former President Duterte's birthday, Tormis confirmed that no proposals had been received by the tourism office. However, he expressed willingness to assist any group wishing to organize an event honoring the elder Duterte, provided it followed proper procedures.
Former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte was born on March 28, 1945, and will celebrate his 81st birthday in 2026. The clarification from city officials comes against the backdrop of previous large-scale demonstrations involving Duterte supporters.
Context of Previous Demonstrations
In 2025, Dabawenyos commemorated Davao City's 88th Charter Day on March 16 with a "Solidary Walk" during the annual Parada Dabawenyo. Thousands of participants filled the streets calling on the International Criminal Court in The Hague to bring former President Duterte home, following his transfer to the Netherlands for alleged crimes against humanity.
An even larger crowd gathered for a protest march during Duterte's birthday two weeks later, with over 320,000 supporters clad in black flooding Davao City streets. Participants in these events showed support for the former president through chants, shouts of his name, and calls for his release.
The current emphasis on political neutrality in official celebrations represents a distinct shift from these previous demonstrations, with city officials now stressing the inclusive nature of Araw ng Dabaw as an event intended for all residents of Davao City regardless of political affiliation.
