Ati-Atihan festival earns P3.194 million, Kasafi says

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan – Festival organizer Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan Foundation, Inc. (Kasafi) chairman Albert Menez said the weeklong festival was successful and that the earnings this year was 75 percent higher compared to last year.

An internal audited financial statement of this year’s festival shows a net income of P3.194 million. Last year, the foundation netted an income of P1.835 million.

The biggest items for expenses incurred by Kasafi are cash prizes for the winning tribes and individuals of P679,000; subsidies for the tribes of P677,500; representation and entertainment of P491,142; Ati-Atihan festival materials of P409,312; Ati-Atihan souvenir program of P220,000, salaries and wages of staff for P162,300 and rentals of portalets of P140,000.

The biggest sources of income are sponsorships and donations, Hala Bira Ati-Atihan nights and Mutya ag Lakan it Kalibo Ati-Atihan ticket sales, sales of drinks from Kalibo Magsaysay depot, rentals from Kalibo Magsaysay and Kaean-an sa Plaza stalls. Other sources of income were advertisements for the Ati-Atihan souvenir program and Kalibo Magsaysay space ads.

The Hala Bira Ati-Atihan Nights sponsored by Kasafi from January 9 to 12 earned P329,590 from ticket sales. Income from sales of drinks from Kalibo Magsaysay depot netted P138,003.75 and ticket sales for the Mutya ag Lakan it Kalibo Ati-Atihan held at Gov. Augusto B. Legaspi Sports and Cultural Center had P100,000.

Meanwhile, Menez said the Kasafi will put up an Ati-Atihan village in Tigayon Hills in Barangay Tigayon in partnership with the municipal government of Kalibo. The financial assistance for the tribes and the prizes for the Ati-Atihan street dancing contest will likely be increase next year, he added.

A total of 30 Ati-Atihan tribes and a dozen individuals for the Balik-Ati category joined the annual Ati-Atihan street dancing contest this year.