Kalibo Ati-Atihan celebration finale

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan - The final hurrah for the 2012 Kalibo Ati-Atihan Festival kicks off on January 15, commemorating the 'Kaadlawan' of the Feast of the Sto. Nino.

A pilgrims' mass will be celebrated by Kalibo Bishop Jose Corazon Tala-oc in front of the Saint John the Baptist Cathedral and the local clergy in the province of Aklan at 7 a.m.

Tribes, visitors and devotees will also grace the much-awaited mass in honor of Senor Sto. Nino in the early morning of Sunday.

The traditional merrymaking and street dancing of pilgrims, devotees and tourists in the major streets follows after Mayor William Lachica shouts "Viva kay Senor Sto. Nino" and raise the image of Sto. Nino to the wild beat of the drums.

Earlier, thirty-three tribes participated in the Ati-Atihan contest in the Balik-Ati, modern, Tribal Big and Small Categories.

The grand winners will be announced tonight (January 15) by festival organizer Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan Foundation, Inc. (Kasafi) at the Hala Bira Ati-Atihan Night at Kalibo Magsaysay Park.

At 3 p.m. the spiritual religious procession where dance contingents and their karos of the images of Senor Sto. Nino walks their way at the main streets of Kalibo for the six-hour procession and street dancing.

The procession route will start at Saint John the Baptist Cathedral through C. Laserna Street and M. Laserna Street, turn right to Acevedo Street, turn left to Desposorio Maagma, turn left to Mabini Street, turn left to Roxas Avenue, turn left Pastrana Street and turn right to Archbishop Reyes Street straight to the church.

The parish of Saint John the Baptist has urged the devotees to preserve the true essence of the Feast of Sto. Nino, adding, this is very essential for the coming generation.

Other activities of the weeklong celebration were Aklan Products Expo, visual art exhibit, photo contest, search for Mutya and Lakan of Kalibo Ati-Atihan, 9-day novena, paeapak/pahilot, dawn penitential procession, sadsad panaad of schools, colleges and civic groups, Ati-Atihan bazaar, fireworks display, Aklan Festivals parade and Higante contest.

Meanwhile, security measures are in place to secure the festival as thousands of devotees and balikbayans will flock the streets and festival venues today to celebrate the 'Kaadlawan of Senor Sto. Nino", the police said.

Dubbed the 'grandmother of all festivals," the Kalibo Ati-Atihan is celebrated every third Sunday of January of street dancing, merrymaking of no equal and unwavering devotion to the Holy Child.