Ati-atihan Festival in Kalibo

From a brochure produced by the Department of Tourism...

Kalibo Ati-atihan starts on the first week up to the highlight third Sunday of the month of January. It is the ultimate, jubilating, titillating, stimulating, riotous and frenetic aboriginal street dancing to the early primitive pulse and tempo of drums of participating tribes in their full color battle regalia, crowding the principal streets of Kalibo, as they rejoice breathlessly to fulfill their religious vows, make penance or seek for peace or blessings, or for the realization of their dreams and endeavors; drain their year-old worries or inhibitions or simply just for fun as they roam in wild abandon in diverse directions beating their drums with gusto, creating thunders of drumbeats that duplicate the loudest of thunderclaps. Listen to the depth of the musical notes and noises from primitive to modern instruments in commemoration of invading Malayan datus that gave birth to the Philippine nation and in reverence to Sto. Niño or simply watch for the most unique contemporary surprises, the unimaginable or the space age masquerades that spell the difference of the original feast that is Ati-atihan from other copy-cat festivals.

Highlights of the Ati-atihan Festival
- Kalibo Ati-atihan Crafts and Plants Fair
- Ati-atihan Nights
- Spiritual Street Dancing
- Nine Days Novena
- Pahilot or Paepak
- Field Mass
- Torch Parade and Procession
- Purchase of Panay Reenactment
- Ms. Kalibo Ati-atihan Pageant
- Fireworks Display

I will try to immerse myself from the aforementioned activities this week. Will be posting pictures soon...

Viva kay Sr. Sto. Niño!