Ati tribes, devotees expect grandiose January fest

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan - Adding color to the spiritual celebration of the Kalibo festival, devotees and tourists will witness hundreds of street performers from the different tribes in an Ati-Atihan contest.

The festival gathers the best and the grandest tribes in Aklan for the yearly event in honor of Señor Sto. Niño de Kalibo.

The oldest festival will take centerstage on January 16 with the Balik-Ati tribes, tribal and modern groups and individuals garbed in their indigenous costumes for street dancing.

The procession on January 17 will start at 2 p.m. beginning at the Kalibo Pastrana Park with thousands of devotees joining the tribes and their Sto. Niño caros and images in six hours procession.

On Sunday morning, the miraculous Sto Nino de Kalibo image will be transferred from Saint John the Baptist Cathedral to the historic Kalibo Pastrana Park for concelebrated pilgrims' mass.

In the Modern category, the Ati-Atihan groups are D' Emagine, Parientes, B-Crusis, Enchanting, Scorpio 11-19, Aeang-Aeang, Sakanebu and Mologonians while the Balik-Ati tribes are Apo ni Inday, Bolingon Balik Ati, Tribu Isalacan, Kinantu-ing, Maninikop, Salimuno Falls and Lilo-Anong Ati nga Mananggiti.

There are eleven tribes in Tribal Small category - Tribu Eamang, Lezo Tribe, Tribu Mangingigi, Tribu it Panay, Tribu Bukid Tigayon, Tribu Responde, Tribu Timo-Timo, Morongga Tribe, Tribu Ninolitos, D' Kamanggahan Tribe and Tribu Tipon-Tipon and eight tribes in Tribal Big category - Lord Eagles, Kabog, Libtong Boys, Black Beauty Boys, Maharlika Tribe, Tribu Tiis-Tiis, Alibangbang and Pangawasan Tribes.

The towns in Aklan will also parade their giant paper mache puppets (higante) on January 13 at 2 p.m. and showcase their festivals at Kalibo Pastrana Park.

Kalibo mayor Raymar Rebaldo, in his message, welcomed the devotees and balikbayans to the 798th Kalibo Ati-Atihan festival, saying, the enduring legacy had given the Kalibonhons the historical significance, cultural pride and international renown.