There's no doubt that festival is a part of the Filipino culture.Through good times and bad time, Filipinos have taught of ways to celebrate and feast. But of all the festivals celebrated in the country, my favorite is the mother of all festival - the Ati-atihan Festival.
History (from official Kalibo website - http://kalibo.gov.ph/site-page)
A thirteenth century (c.1200 A.D.) event explains the origins of the mother of all festivals. According to history, a group of ten Malay chieftains called Datus, fleeing from the island of Borneo settled in the Philippines. These datus were granted settlement by the native Ati people, the tribes of Panay Island. The Ati-Atihan was originally a pagan festival from this tribe practicing Animism, and their worshiping their anito god. Spanish missionaries gradually added a Christian meaning to it - the Sr. Sto Nino of Kalibo. And up today, the Ati-Atihan is celebrated as a religious festival.
Celebrated every third week of January, Ati-atihan festival is held at Kalibo City in Aklan where vibrant and colorful indigenous costumes parade along the streets of the city, loud and lively tribal dance will surely entice you to groove and join the fun. For years, Ati-atihan festival has been one of the most anticipated event here in asia that even foreign countries take time to visit and witness this glorious event.
What i enjoy most about this festival is that a lot like the mardi gras, everyone has the freedom to dance in the streets and wear unique and peculiar costumes. Shouting for joy and praising the Sr. Sto. Nino of Kalibo, Aklanons and even toursists truly enjoy the Ati-atihan Festival.
Sadsad as what the locals call, people gather in the streets with charcoal in their faces and body and start dancing in the streets with rhythmic beats of drums. Even if you're not a dance, you just couldn't thumping and moving with the lively drum beats.
So what are you waiting for? Why not try Ati-atihan Festival and see it for yourself!
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