The annual Kadayawan Festival in Davao City, Philippines, is getting bigger and better every year. In fact, this 2025, it welcomed a new addition to the yearly festivities: pickleball.

The Kadayawan Festival is an annual cultural celebration held every August in Davao City, Philippines, to give thanks for a bountiful harvest and to honour the city’s rich cultural heritage. Rooted in the indigenous practice of offering fruits, flowers, and grains to their gods, it has grown into a vibrant festival showcasing the traditions of Davao’s 11 ethnolinguistic groups. The week-long event is marked by colourful street dances, floral floats, music, and food fairs that highlight the city’s agricultural abundance and diversity.

More than just a thanksgiving ritual, Kadayawan has become a symbol of unity, resilience, and pride for the people of Davao, and on 24 August 2025, the 2025 Kadayawan sa Dabaw Pickleball Doubles Tournament was held as part of the activities of this year’s Kadayawan Festival.

According to tournament director Juanito “Titong” Cansino, the one-day competition that featured four categories—intermediate, beginners, 40-and-above, and 50-and-above—drew approximately 200 players from Cotabato, Maguindanao, General Santos City, Koronadal City, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and the three Davao provinces. Needless to say, the turnout is a clear indication that pickleball is picking up steam in the southernmost part of the Philippines.

Winners of the 2025 Kadayawan sa Dabaw Pickleball Doubles Tournament

The pair of Ahmil Hussein “Kaka Jeng” Ampatuan Macapendeg and Sigmond Escalona of Cotabato City won the title in the intermediate division of the 2025 Kadayawan sa Dabaw Pickleball Doubles Championships held at the Crisron Pickleball Court in Maa, Davao City. Macapendeg, a former First District board member of Maguindanao del Sur and one-time UAAP varsity tennis player for the University of Santo Tomas, teamed up with Escalona and bested Gérard Cole Pinili and Euriz Tanucan, 15–12, in the finals.

Here are the other results:

• Dionar Nico Suson and Ruskin Flexner Suson captured the beginners’ title after beating Jeycel Dys Esnardo and Von Cagape.
• Max Montecillio and Ali Serquina outlasted Novem Isidor and Jorlan Cabanes to rule the 40-and-above category.
• Jeffrey Galinato and Bernard Rosanto defeated Lando Ibarreta and Rommel Perocho for the 50-and-above crown.

The winners pocketed ₱6,000 in cash each, while the runners-up took home ₱4,000 apiece. The cash prizes were courtesy of the Sports Development Division of the City Mayor’s Office.