PIA Press Release
Friday, January 06, 2012

30 tribes to join Kalibo Ati-atihan streetdancing contest

KALIBO, Aklan, January 6 (PIA) -- Thirty Ati-atihan tribes from four various categories are joining this year’s Kalibo Sto. Ati-atihan Festival Streetdancing contest, slated from January 9 to 15.

The categories include Modern, with five participating groups; Balik-Ati, eight; Tribal Small, eight; and Tribal Big, nine.

Four of the Ati-atihan tribes are newly formed groups while half of the tribes joining this year’s contest come from outside Kalibo – six are from Malinao town; four from Makato; two from Lezo; two from Numancia and one from Banga.

Even as the Ati-atihan Festival officially starts on January 9 through various activities, the Ati-atihan contest among tribal, modern Balik-ati and Individual Contest will be on Saturday, January 14 from 8:00 a.m up to 4:00 p.m. at major streets of Kalibo.

Judging will also be conducted during this period, where tribe members dance around Kalibo to the unique Ati-atihan beat, dressed up in colorful costumes, their bodies painted with soot and other bright hues.

Big cash prizes have been prepared for the winners this year by the Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-atihan Foundation, Inc. (KASAFI), prime organizer of the festivities, to be awarded during the “Pagpadungog,” The "Pagpadungog" is considered the finale of the three week-long festival.

Meanwhile, other activities by the municipality include the Search for Mutya Ag Lakan it Kalibo Ati-atihan 2012, 9-Day Novena at the Kalibo Cathedral, Pahilot or Paeapak at the Kalibo Cathedral, a unique age-old faith healing rite of the Miraculous Sto. Nino of Kalibo that attracts devotees, Ati-atihan Bazaar (day abd night market), Kalibo Ati-atihan Trade Fair 2012 at the Kalibo Plaza Trade Hall, Visual Art Exhibit at the Museo it Aklan, Kaean-an sa Plaza, Magsaysay Park Food, Drinks and Party Festival, and Paghinugyaw it Mga Barangay Sa Kalibo.

There will also be a Higante Contest and Aklan Festivals Parade, Sadsad Panaad of Socio-Civic and Religious Groups, Hornada, Fireworks Display, Transfer of Sto. Nino Image and Pilgrims Mass at the Kalibo Plaza, and Religious Procession.

To secure peace and order in Kalibo for the festivities, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has augmented its forces here with 50 additional personnel from Police Regional Office 6. (JCM/VGV PIA 6 Aklan)