Kasafi: More tribes to join Kalibo Ati festival

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan – More participating groups and individual participants are expected to beat the deadline for registration for the 2011 Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan Festival slated on January 10 to 16, 2011.

Thirty one original tribal and Balik-Ati groups, so far, had signified interest to participate in the weeklong Ati-Atihan festival in honor of Senor Sto. Nino.

To join the festival, all participating groups and individual participants must register before January 7, 2011 at the Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan Foundation, Inc. (Kasafi) office.

Kalibo mayor William Lachica has recognized the private sector-led organization as the exclusive promoter of Kalibo tourism activities and projects and the tourism arm of the local government unit in the development and promotion of the annual Ati-Atihan festival.

A memorandum of agreement was signed between Mayor Lachica and Kasafi chairman Albert Menez to promote, conserve and develop the Aklanons’ spiritual, social and cultural heritage of the Kalibo Ati-Atihan festival.

Kasafi group participation chairman Dennis Dalida said Semper Fedelis, Tiis-Tiis, Black Beauty Boys, Kabog, Libtong Boys and Tribo Alibang-bang in Tribal group Big while Small Tribal groups of Tribu Bukid Tigayon, Tribu Tipon-Tipon, Tribo it Panay, Moronga Tribe, Lezo Tribe, Tribo Timo-Timo, Tribo Ninolitos, Tribo Eamang, Responde and D’ Kamangahan Tribe will join the festival next year.
Parientes, D’ Emagine, Aeang-Aeang, Sakanebu, B’ Crucis, Scorpio 11-19 and Adlaw-Gabi-i in the Modern Group category and the Balik-Ati groups of Lilo-Anong Ati nga Manangiti, Tribu Isalacan, Maninikup Group, Apo ni Inday, Kinantuing Ati, Tribu Ilayanhon and Manhanip Tribe are interested to participate in the annual celebration dubbed the “Mother of all Philippine Festivals.”
On the other hand, Menez has urged the participating groups to adhere to the decades-old tradition – the drumbeat and dance steps that made the Kalibo festival famous. They should also be prepared to perform anytime in the morning of January 10, 2011 until the traditional religious procession in the afternoon of January 16, 2011.
To boost the spirituality of the festival, tribal groups should also shout or chant in unison “Viva kay Senor Sto. Nino” during the Ati-Atihan contest, the blessings of Ati groups on January 15, 2011 and the pilgrim mass at the Kalibo Pastrana Park on January 16, 2011.
Kasafi also encouraged all participants of the tribal and modern groups to cover their exposed faces and parts of the body with black soot.
For security reasons, all participants wearing costumes with mask that cover their faces are required to register with the Kalibo police station. Tribal and Balik-Ati groups should also carry shield costume (taming and bangkaw) made of wood, indigenous materials and commercial materials.