Davaoeños will have more time to relax and enjoy the fun-filled activities of the Kadayawan Festival this year with the coming long weekend.

Davao City will have a five-day weekend starting Friday as Malacañang has acceded to the request of the Davao City Council through Proclamation No. 432 to declare August 17 as a special non-working day in the city to pave the way for the culminating activities of Kadayawan Festival. 

The end of Ramadan, or the Muslim holy month, on Aug. 20 has also been declared a national holiday with Malacañang issuing Proclamation No. 455 which provides that the observance of Eid'l Fitr is to promote cultural understanding and integration of the entire Filipino nation to join our Muslim brothers and sisters in the observance and celebration of Eid'l Fitr. 

Eid'l Fitr is celebrated by Muslims for three days after the end of the month of fasting. The observance of Ramadan started last July 20. 

In November last year, President Benigno Aquino also issued Proclamation No. 295 which included the declaration of August 21 as one of the special non-working days for 2012. This is in commemoration of the 29th death anniversary of former senator Benigno S. Aquino, Jr., father of the President. 

The five-day weekend, the longest this year, will give Davaoeños and those visiting the city during the annual Kadayawan Festival, more time to join the celebration.  

Major events and highlights like the Hiyas sa Kadayawan Finals will be on Friday, the Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan on Saturday and the Pamulak Kadayawan will be on Sunday. (City Information Office)