Ati-Atihan Festival: Kalibo, Aklan, Philippines

January 13, 2009

14 Jan 2009 – 18 Jan 2009

 

The Ati-Atihan Festival is an annual festivity held in honor of the patron Santo Niño every January closing on third Sunday, in the town of Kalibo, Aklan, Philippines.

This is the wildest among Philippine festivals and deemed as the Mother of All Philippine celebrations. Participants paint their faces with black soot and wear bright, eccentric costumes as they dance in revelry during the festival and can hear yells like “Hala Bira! Pwera Pasma!”. Catholics and non-Catholics equally observe this extra ordinary day with processions, parades, dancing, merrymaking and partying.

There are unexceptional collection of accommodations in Kalibo: Local tourists and for those foreign tourists joining this festivity are advised to book reservations well before the Ati-Atihan festival. Hotel Deals Held during this third weekend of January, Ati-Atihan is a cultural festival and one of the biggest events of the year in the country. Held in Kalibo, the festival’s name literally translates as “making like Atis” which refers to the black aborigines who were the original inhabitants of the province of Aklan in the Western Visayas region. The event dates back to 1212 when 10 families from Borneo arrived in Panay fleeing from religious persecution. The native Atis welcomed them and allotted them land to set up homes and live on. As a show of their enormous gratitude, the new arrivals threw a great celebration involving music, singing, dancing and food. The tradition continues to this day in much the same manner and remains one of the most colorful and lively events of the year. Adjacent provinces and other local tourist s all over the country would like to join this once a year Kalibo’s Ati-Atihan Festival. Foreign tourists from Boracay Island are much closed to this event and truly come to enjoy this wildest festival in the country. It is just a 45 minute trip by air from manila. For those tourists who do not know how to get in there, you can visit their official website for more details.

797th Kalibo Ati-Atihan Festival Schedule of activities:

 SPIRITUAL STREET DANCING

 1^st week to 3^rd Sunday of January 2009, Principal Streets of Kalibo

          The true spirit of Ati-atihan. An act of piety to ensure miracle for barren women to bear children, heal the body from maladies beyond medical remedy, prosperity in business or simply for fun and excitement.

 

9-DAY NOVENA

 

January 10-18, 2009, Kalibo Cathedral

         A traditional religious activity in reverence to the Sto. Niño where believers pledge vows in exchange of blessings and supplications and is gaining worldwide recognition and acceptance for its miracle of healing.

 

HALA BIRA ATI-ATIHAN NIGHTS

 

January 12-18, 2009, Magsaysay Park

           Experience an unforgettable and endless dancing and partying with the rumbling and energetic music of live bands starting in the early evening till the wee hours of the morning. Join the crowd in the almost never-ending excitement- of “snake-dancing” and enjoy the appetizing food and drinks served at kiosks in and around the park.

 

KAEAN-AN SA PLAZA (Food Fest)

 

January 12-18, 2009, 9:00a.m.-12mn, Pastrana Park

            The perfect place to re-energize yourselves.  The Food Festival at the town plaza presents fast foods and different culinary specialties from Aklanon, Filipino to international culinary cuisines.

VISUAL ART EXHIBIT

 

January 12-18, 2009, Museo it Akean

         Awe-inspiring paintings and sculptures created by members of the Aklan Visual Arts Association adding vibrance to the various museum pieces for your eyes to feast on.

 

PAGDAYAW

 

January 13, 2009, 2:00 p.m., Principal Streets of Kalibo

          All out Ati-Atihan street dancing for students from public and private high schools and colleges in Aklan.

 

SADSAD PANAAD

 

January 14, 2009, 8:00 A.M., Principal Streets of Kalibo

           A parade of teachers and faculty from all public schools and colleges in the province of Aklan in their colorful costumes.

 

ATI-ATIHAN PRODUCTS SHOWCASE

 

January 12-19, 2009, 8:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m., Pastrana Park

         Showcases beautiful ornamental plants and quality Aklanon products made from piña,abaca,raffia,nito and clay materials handcrafted by local artisans.

 

HIGANTE PARADE & AKLAN FESTIVAL SHOWDOWN

 

January 14, 2009, 2:00 p.m., Principal Streets of Kalibo

         A colorful parade of the festival winners and Sto. Niño devotees from the 17 towns of Aklan highlighted by the giant images of cultural and historical significance.

 

PAHILOT OR PAEAPAK

 

January 14-18, 2009, Kalibo Cathedral

          A unique age-old faith healing rite of the miraculous Sto. Niño of Kalibo that attracts devotees worldwide for curing diseases.

 

BARTER OF PANAY REENACTMENT

 

January 15, 2009, Magsaysay Park

     The legendary reenactment of the arrival of ten (10) Datus and the Purchase of Panay from the Aetas by the Malays.  Witness the origin of the Mother of all festivals unfold before your eyes and its evolution into the present day praisefest.

 

3 DAYS FINAL HURRAH

 

January 16-18 2009, Major Streets of Kalibo

      Experience 3 days and nights of jubilating revelry with soot-smeared Akeanons, local and foreign tourists dancing in wild abandon to the deafening sound of numerous drums, cymbals and lyres shouting, “Hala Bira Puera Pasma! Viva kay Señor Sto. Niño. Viva!’

 

ATI-ATIHAN CONTEST

 

January 17, 2009, 7:00 a.m., Major Streets of Kalibo

     Tribal and modern groups, Balik-Ati tribes and individually costumed participants dance on the streets to the beat of the drums and lyre in their vibrant and colorful costumes.

 

BLESSING OF CHILDREN

 

January 17, 2009, 11:00 a.m., Kalibo Cathedral

        Children of different ages gather for the traditional blessing to honor the Holy Child officiated by the Bishop of Kalibo.

 

DEVOTEES DAWN ROSARY & PROCESSION

 

January 17, 2009, 4:00 a.m., Kalibo Cathedral

      Pray the dawn rosary with devotees and pilgrims.  A moment of deep silence before the festival music rises into a crescendo.

 

FIREWORKS DISPLAY

 

January 17, 2009, 11:00 p.m., Magsaysay Park

        A spectacular display of colorful fireworks in the eve of the Ati-atihan’s big day.  See the most dazzling show of thousands of vibrant lights as they pierce the night sky.

 

TRANSFER OF STO. NIÑO IMAGE

 

January 18, 2009, 6:30 a.m., Kalibo Cathedral to Pastrana Park

          The traditional transfer of the venerated miraculous image of Sto. Niño of Kalibo from the Kalibo Cathedral to Pastrana Park for the field mass celebration.  Witness the applause of drums and lyre of Ati Tribes in reverence to the Sto. Niño.

 

PASAEAMAT

 

January 18, 2009, 7:00 a.m., Pastrana Park

          A concelebrated field mass offering devotees, guests and tourists flock insolidarity with Ati-atihan Tribes as they take part in the highest form of Catholic worship to God.

 

TORCH PARADE & PROCESSION

 

January 18, 2009, 3:00 p.m., Principal Streets of Kalibo

     Join the Ati-atihan groups parading for hours together with their beautifully adorned Sto. Niño caros and devotees carrying Sto. Niño image and bamboo torches that create floods of lights beginning at the town plaza and ending at the Kalibo Cathedral.

 

PAGPADUNGOG

 

January 18, 2009, 7:00 p.m., Magsaysay Park

           The finale and last hurrah of the three- weeklong festival.  After a day of street dancing and gastronomic feast in praise of the Sto. Niño, winners of the Ati-atihan Contest give their last energy as they receive their awards.

 

Credits are due to the Tourism Department of Kalibo.