Kalibo food fest seen to draw tourists, too, like Ati-atihan
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan – The Kalibo Food Festival sa Kalye Year 12 starts on June 19.The five-day food festival, which ends on the 23rd, will be held at the S. Martelino Street fronting the historic Kalibo Pastrana Park.
Its staging is a prelude to the fiesta of the town’s patron saint, St. John the Baptist on June 24.
The midyear tourism event is organized by the Kalibo Ati-Atihan Tourism Council (KATC) and the local government of Kalibo.
Drawing tourists annually, the food festival showcases the best cuisines and specialties of Aklan, and fine music from top performing bands from Manila and Iloilo.
According to KATC Vice President Edison Lao, the food festival aims to promote the town of Kalibo as a premier tourist destination aside from its Kalibo Señor Sto. Niño Ati-Atihan Festival every January, and the Kalibo Bakhawan Eco-Park.
The 11th edition of the festival, Lao said, features local reggae underground band Brownman Revival. Their latest album “Ayon Din” has reggae remakes of Muli, Paniwalaan, Lahat ng Araw (Silayan), Kapit, Bitin, Waang Kasing Sarap, Sorry Na, Pwede Ba, Diskarte and Reggae Fever.
The band also received nominations in the 2005 SOP Music Awards and NU Rock Awards for Song of the Year for their hit single “Maling Akala”.
Voted as the Best Reggae Artist of the Year in the 2nd Annual Philippine R&B, the band is expected to entertain the crowd with its reggae music influenced by UB40 and Big Mountain.