Arroyo to grace Ati-Atihan fest, security tight
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL
KALIBO, Aklan – For the second time, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will grace this year’s edition of the Kalibo Ati-Atihan festival to join the traditional street dancing.
Mayor Raymar Rebaldo told reporters during the press conference at Capt. Gil Mijares Building that President Arroyo has confirmed her presence to the 795th Kalibo Señor Sto. Niño festival.
“The global promotion of the festival from January 15-21, 2007 amid the revelry and drum-beatings is meaningful with the visit of President Arroyo,” he pointed out.
Rebaldo said President Arroyo attended the much-awaited Ati-Atihan festival last year with thousands of visitors and parishioners in celebrating the festivities touted as the premier festival of the country.
The town mayor added he would seek the support of President Arroyo to elevate the capital town, the center of trade and commerce of the province, into a city.
If Arroyo's visit pushes through, the security is tight with 250 policemen, including 150 cops from the regional police would be deployed in and around the town of Kalibo to augment the Aklan Provincial Police Office (APPO), according to Chief Insp. Arnold Ardiente, chief of Kalibo Philippine National Police (PNP).
Ardiente further stressed PNP would also deploy police interns and the Philippine Army to reinforce the security of the festival and to conduct strict checkpoints near the boundaries of the towns of New Washington, Numancia and Banga.
To cope with the traffic arrangements, Ardiente suggested a ‘zero-vehicle scheme’ on January 20 and 21, the final days of the weeklong celebration so as not to worsen the traffic problem.
Rebaldo, the honorary chairman of the Kalibo Ati-Atihan Management Board (KAMB), said it is timely for the festival to display to revelers and devotees the unique celebration in honor of Senor Sto. Niño and bring back the old glory of the festival.
Last January 14, 2006, Arroyo inaugurated the P1.7-million five-classroom building at the Aklan National High School and ordered the release of P55 million for the Instrument Landing System (ILS) of the Kalibo airport.
The President also witnessed the traditional paeapak healing ritual at the St. John the Baptist Cathedral and declared the yearly festival as the “mother of all Philippine native festivals.”
She also distributed 5,000 Philhealth ID cards for indigent families, 132 land titles to 91 beneficiaries, had lunch with Aklan governor Carlito Marquez, Aklan Rep. Florencio Miraflores and Vice Gov. Ronquillo Tolentino and an informal interaction with media.
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL
KALIBO, Aklan – For the second time, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will grace this year’s edition of the Kalibo Ati-Atihan festival to join the traditional street dancing.
Mayor Raymar Rebaldo told reporters during the press conference at Capt. Gil Mijares Building that President Arroyo has confirmed her presence to the 795th Kalibo Señor Sto. Niño festival.
“The global promotion of the festival from January 15-21, 2007 amid the revelry and drum-beatings is meaningful with the visit of President Arroyo,” he pointed out.
Rebaldo said President Arroyo attended the much-awaited Ati-Atihan festival last year with thousands of visitors and parishioners in celebrating the festivities touted as the premier festival of the country.
The town mayor added he would seek the support of President Arroyo to elevate the capital town, the center of trade and commerce of the province, into a city.
If Arroyo's visit pushes through, the security is tight with 250 policemen, including 150 cops from the regional police would be deployed in and around the town of Kalibo to augment the Aklan Provincial Police Office (APPO), according to Chief Insp. Arnold Ardiente, chief of Kalibo Philippine National Police (PNP).
Ardiente further stressed PNP would also deploy police interns and the Philippine Army to reinforce the security of the festival and to conduct strict checkpoints near the boundaries of the towns of New Washington, Numancia and Banga.
To cope with the traffic arrangements, Ardiente suggested a ‘zero-vehicle scheme’ on January 20 and 21, the final days of the weeklong celebration so as not to worsen the traffic problem.
Rebaldo, the honorary chairman of the Kalibo Ati-Atihan Management Board (KAMB), said it is timely for the festival to display to revelers and devotees the unique celebration in honor of Senor Sto. Niño and bring back the old glory of the festival.
Last January 14, 2006, Arroyo inaugurated the P1.7-million five-classroom building at the Aklan National High School and ordered the release of P55 million for the Instrument Landing System (ILS) of the Kalibo airport.
The President also witnessed the traditional paeapak healing ritual at the St. John the Baptist Cathedral and declared the yearly festival as the “mother of all Philippine native festivals.”
She also distributed 5,000 Philhealth ID cards for indigent families, 132 land titles to 91 beneficiaries, had lunch with Aklan governor Carlito Marquez, Aklan Rep. Florencio Miraflores and Vice Gov. Ronquillo Tolentino and an informal interaction with media.
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