The Ati-Atihan Festival of Kalibo, Aklan, is dubbed by historians as the “Mother of All Festivals” which is celebrated every January and inspired other Visayan Festivals such as the Sinulog of Cebu and Dinagyang of Ilo-ilo.
Ati-Atihan Festival (Photo: kaliboatiatihan.ph)
Ati-Atihan Festival is held annually and concludes on the third Sunday of the month, the 2014 celebration will commence on January 10 and culminates during the highlights of the Festival on January 19, 2014.
According to some historians, the Ati-Atihan Festival is a feast held annually in honor of the Santo Niño (Infant Jesus), in the town and municipality of Kalibo, Aklan. The name “Ati-Atihan” means “to be like Aetas” or “make believe Ati’s.”
The Aetas or Ati’s were the primary settlers in the island of Panay according to history books. The Ati-Atihan Festival started during the 13th century (c.1200 A.D.) when 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.
The Atis or Aetas decided to settle to the highlands while the new Malay inhabitants settles at the lowland. Some time later, the Ati people were struggling with famine as the result of a bad harvest. They were forced to descend from their mountain village and seek the generosity of the people who lived below. The Datus obliged and gave them food. In return, the Ati danced and sang for them which started the Ati-Atihan fiesta.
The festival was originally a pagan festival as a sign of worship from anito god, during the arrival of the Spanish missionaries gradually added a Christian meaning, today, the Ati-Atihan Festival is celebrated as a religious festival.
Listed below are the Official Schedule of Activities for the Ati-Atihan Festival 2014. The list of activities came from the official website of the Kalibo Ati-Atihan Festival at KaliboAtiAtihan.Ph.
Ati-Atihan Festival 2014 Schedule of Activities (Kalibo, Aklan):
January 10-19, 2014
9-Day Devotional Novena @ Cathedral of St. John the BaptistJanuary 10-19, 2014
Paeapak @ Cathedral of St. John the BaptistJanuary 10, 2014 @ 7PM
Mutya ng Lakan it Kalibo Ati-Atihan Pageant
ABL Sports and Cultural CenterJanuary 13-19, 2014
Aklan Products Showcase
Kalibo Pastrana ParkJanuary 13-19, 2014 @ 8 AM
Kalibo Ati-Atihan Street Bazaar
Veterans AvenueJanuary 13-19, 2014
Visual Arts Exhibit
Museo it AkeanJanuary 13-19, 2014
Kaean-an sa Plaza
Kalibo Pastrana ParkJanuary 13-19, 2014 @ 6 PM
Hala Bira Ati-Atihan Nights
Kalibo Magsaysay ParkJanuary 13, 2014 @ 2 PM
Aklan Festivals Parade
Major Streets of KaliboJanuary 14, 2014 @ 2 PM
Viva Senior Sto. Nino
Major Streets of KaliboJanuary 24, 2014 @ 5 PM
Kapuso Ati-Atihan Night
Kalibo Pastrana ParkJanuary 15, 2014 @ 5 PM
Ati-Atihan Trajjic Jam Car Show
Kalibo Pastrana ParkJanuary 15, 2014 @ 7 PM
Kapuso Ati-Atihan Dance Showdown
Kalibo Magsaysay ParkJanuary 15-17, 2014
Sinaot sa Calle
Major Streets of KaliboJanuary 16, 2014 @ 2 PM
Aklan Higante Contest
Major Streets of KaliboJanuary 17, 2014
Sadsad Pagpasaemat kay Senor Sto. Nino
Major Streets of KaliboJanuary 18, 2014 @ 4 AM
Dawn Penitential Procession
Major Streets of Kalibo-Cathedral of St. John the BaptistJanuary 18 @ 8 AM
Ati-Atihan Tribes Street Dancing Contest @ 8 AM
(–foul word(s) removed–)embly Area: Mabini St. & Desposorio Maagma, Sr. St.January 18 @ 12 Noon
Hornada
In front of St. John the Baptist ChurchJanuary 19 @ 9 AM
Transfer of Sr. Sto. Nino de Kalibo image and Pilgrims’ M(–foul word(s) removed–)
Cathedral of St. John the BaptistJanuary 19, 2014 @ 9 AM
Musyon ga Ati-Atihan ag Mag Sto. Nino
Major Streets of KaliboJanuary 19, 2014 @ 3 PM to 9 PM
Religious Procession and Dance
Major Streets of Kalibo-Cathedral Parish of St. John the Baptist.