Post-Kadayawan Week Events that Happened on August 17-23, 2026

These are gigs that happened August 17-23, 2026 and we’re winding down on the month. But as you can see, the energy and caliber of the shows that happened post-kadayawan have not waned.

I have to admit that I haven’t been that active the past few days online mostly because I was caught up in the actual Kadayawan events happening in and around the metro, being a dad, and having had to deal with the death of a friend in the music scene.

I guess the most recent event, the death of Givanne Canuday, made an impact on me. It made me question my mortality and what would happen if and when I leave this world. Who will continue the things I’ve done? What succession planning should I have in place to ensure that this site outlives me?

Givanne was one of the good guys. We weren’t close friends. Far from it. We were at odds every now and then because of our differing ideas when it came to performances and artistry. How being true to one’s musicianship extends to how they live their life and how artistry and musicianship while still earning an honest living can work side by side.

I was of the latter mindset. After all, we all need to eat, right?

But the one thing Givanne was a firm believer of was that you should not bend your morals as a musician and an artist. That it is not money that should fuel one’s being a musician. And I envy that manner of thinking.

I was earning money as a band member at 15 years old and I see it from the point of view of a working musician that one needs to be paid for the things they do onstage. But it is also the responsibility of the artist to be entertaining, to perform, and to some degree please the crowd.

If you can do that without bending your morals then I totally applaud you. not everyone is that lucky. And so, some have to be performers and musicians at the same time instead of just being the latter.

But no one can dispute Givanne’s importance in the local scene. He put a lot of bands onstage. He did the scheduling, he thought of gigs, called bands, came up with themes. Without him, the Davao music scene would have been less vibrant.

He was a good guy. He had a presence about him that matched his imposing physique. He also had a laugh that would make you join him.

The last time I saw him was a few days before his death. That after not seeing him for years. We joked a bit and I congratulated him for his new band, Banayad Napkins and how I hoped I could interview them.

I did not know that would be the last I’d see of him alive.

So yeah, I’m sad. But guess what? On the 29th, his band will continue to play in his honor.

Farewell Givanne, you did a great job getting people onstage.

Rest in Peace Givanne