Indian medical students bring Holi to Davao

By Maya M. Padillo

DAVAO CITY — Indians, mainly medical student who have made Davao their temporary home, are bringing their Holi Festival of Colors to the city for the second time this year, with a bigger celebration at SM Lanang on March 19.

Holi is a spring festival, known as India’s most colorful event, that aims to promote love, joy and unity.

Juvy Sta. Maria, organizer of the Holi Fest here, said the party — which lasts from 4 p.m. to midnight — will feature songs and dances and the traditional casting of non-toxic Gulal Holi powder.

“Definitely we are expecting a lot of participants in this event and, at the same time, we have prepared more activities that will look like a cultural show of Indians,” Ms. Sta. Maria said in a press conference on March 4.

Last year, joining the fun were not just Indians and locals, but also members of Davao’s multi-national expat community, she said.

The director of some 3,000 Indian students in Davao City, Raja Selva Kumar said the young community will continue to grow in the coming years given the city’s friendly environment and the quality of education that the Davao Medical School Foundation (DMSF) offers.

“The current facility that they (DMSF) are giving to us is excellent that we don’t even have in India. It is the dedication in education that attracts most of us here,” said Mr. Kumar of the Davao Medical Education Management Service.

He also pointed out that the use of English in classes and everyday setting means there is no language barrier to deal with, and that the tuition fees are relatively affordable for Indian families.

“There is no chance that their number will decrease because Indians know the value of education in the Philippines and it’s really very good.”