History of Kalibo Atiatihan Festival

The Ati-Atihan Festival is a feast held annually in January in honor of the Santo Niño (Infant Jesus), concluding on the third Sunday, in the island and town of Kalibo, Aklan in the Philippines. The name "Ati-Atihan" means "to be like Aetas" or "make believe Ati's." Aetas were the primary settlers in the islands according to history books. They too are the earliest settlers of Panay Island where the province of Aklan is situated.
The festival consists of tribal dance, music, accompanied by indigenous costumes and weapons, and parade along the street. Christians, and non-Christians observe this day with religious processions. It has inspired many other Philippine Festivals including the Sinulog Festival of Cebu and Dinagyang of Iloilo, both adaptations of the Kalibo Ati-Atihan Festival.
A 13th century (c.1200 A.D.) event explains the origins of the festival. A group of 10 Malay chieftains called Datus, fleeing from the island of Borneo settled in the Philippines, and were granted settlement by the Ati people, the tribes of Panay Island. Datu Puti, Makatunaw's chief minister made a trade with the natives and bought the plains for a golden salakot, brass basins and bales of cloth. For the wife of the Ati chieftain, they gave a very long necklace. Feasting and festivities followed soon after.^[2]
Sometime later, the Ati people were struggling with famine as the result of a bad harvest. They were forced to descend from their mountain village into the settlement below, to seek the generosity of the people who now lived there. The Datus obliged and gave them food. In return, the Ati danced and sang for them, grateful for the gifts they had been given. ^[3]
The misoln was originally a pagan festival from this tribe practicing Animism, and their worshiping their anito god. Spanish missionaries gradually added a Christian meaning. Today, the Ati-Atihan is celebrated as a religious festival.
The people attend masses for the Santo Niño, and benefit dances sponsored by government organizations. The formal opening mass emphasizes the festival’s religious event. The procession begins with a rhythmic drumbeats, and dances parading along the street. The second day begins at dawn with a rosary procession, which ends with a community mass, and procession. The phrase "Hala Bira! Pwera Pasma!" is originally associated with the Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan Festival as the revelers and devotees keep on going with the festivities all over the town from morning to the wee hours of the next morning, rain or shine, for one week or even more. They believe that the miraculous Child Jesus will protect them from harm and illness. The highlight of the festival occurs on the last day, the third Sunday of January, when groups representing different tribes compete for tourists' attention and prizes. The festival ends with a procession of thousands of people carrying torches and different kinds of images of the Santo Niño. The contest winners are announced at a masquerade ball which officially ends the festival.

Sr. Sto. Niño

Tribal Dance

The Way of Celebrating Kalibo Ati atihan

Paeapak

Kalibo Magsaysay Park

Novena at the St. John the Baptist church

Higante Parade

Showcase of Kalibo Products

Mutya and Lakan Contestants

Mass at the front of Kalibo Cathedral

Festival activities include the Hala Bira Ati-Atihan nights at the Kalibo Magsaysay Park, Kaean-an sa Plasa, paeapak or pahilot at the Saint John the Baptist, nine-day novena, Ati-Atihan competition, Day of the Drums, Dawn Penitential Procession, pilgrims' mass, Higante contest and Aklan Festivals parade, products showcase and the Mutya it Kalibo Ati-Atihan pageant.

Activities Before and After Atiatihan




The Local government of Kalibo prepares for the incoming Kalibo Atiatihan Festival.

Different groups and school participates in street dancing before the festival’s final day.

Different bands performed in Magsaysay Park

Different tribal groups for other Poblacions to Kalibo Atiatihan Festival

Mass at the front of Kalibo Cathedral for the Atiatihan Festival

The Sadsad Festivities

Many people are drinking when they are street dancing

People wore different costumes for the Atiatihan Festival

Different tribal groups participates in the festivities

Sayaw Rituals

Bottom of Form

The Ati-Atihan Festival is a feast held in honor of the Santo Niño held 

annually in January concluding on third Sunday, in the town of Kalibo,

 Aklan in the Philippines. It is the wildest among Philippine fiestas and 

considered as the Mother of All Philippine festivals. Celebrants paint

their faces with black soot and wear bright, outlandish costumes as

they dance in revelry during the last three days of this two week-

long festival. Catholics and non-Catholics alike observe this special

day with processions, parades, dancing, and merrymaking.

Search for the Mutya and Lakan of Kalibo

The Ati-Atihan beauty pageant is one of the most anticipated activities of the Kalibo Ati-Atihan festival, where physique gentlemen and beautiful ladies showcase their fitness, charm, talent and beauty. 

The annual search is a prestigious competition organized by your Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan Foundation, Inc. (Kasafi), a private-sector led foundation chaired by Albert Menez,  tasked to manage the activities of the Kalibo Ati-Atihan festival in partnership with the local government of Kalibo.

Atiatihan folk songs Literature

Ati-Atihan is a festival in honor of the Holy Infant Jesus in Kalibo, Aklan also celebrated in the third week of January. The dancing however is done on the rhythms of the drums that makes this festival comparable with carnival in Rio in Brazil.

A parade is participated by celebrants who paint their faces in many different ways and who are dressed in the most exceptional costumes.

The practise of painting the faces was long observed before the
Spaniards came. It symbolized the friendship between the light-skinned immigrants from the island of Borneo (Kalimantan) in Indonesia and the Atis, the local people of Panay. The Ati (negritos), a small and dark (black) kinky-haired people, sold them a small piece of land and allowed them to settle down in the lowlands. The Atis themselves, lived more upland in the mountains.

One time the Ati people was in need of food because of a bad harvest in their homelands. They came down to the lowlands of the Maraynon and asked them food. Every year since then, the Atis came down to the lowland inhabitants to ask for some food. They danced and sang in gratitude for the help.

HAIKU POEM

Valentine on hold.

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Heartbeats on heartbeats,
A February myst'ry...
Penned upon small cards.

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Beneath falling snow,
Cupid aims bow and arrow...
Two hearts to ignite.

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Within this short month,
Set apart by a red heart...
Candy and flowers.

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Beneath winters moon,
Valentine loves meet to dance...
A story unfolds.

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Upon winter air,
Shared kisses float to heaven...
Saint Valentine smiles.