Kalibo gears for grander Dinagyang, Ati-AtihanBY NESTOR P. BURGOS, JR. / Inquirer
The organizers of this city’s Dinagyang Festival and the Ati-Atihan Festival in Kalibo, Aklan, are gearing for livelier and grander festival celebrations in January.
The festivals, among those held annually in January to profess devotion to the Child Jesus Sto. Niño, would include more events and activities, according to organizers.
The Ati-Atihan Festival will peak on January 10-16 while the Dinagyang Festival will culminate on January 17-23.
Iloilo City tourism officer Ben Jimena, spokesperson of the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. (IDFI), said guests and spectators could expect better performances especially in the Dinagyang Ati tribe competition on January 23.
This year’s festival carries the theme “Iloilo’s Finest, Nation’s Best,” referring to Dinagyang’s distinction of repeatedly being cited as the country’s best tourism event by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines.
The number of competing tribes in the Ati tribe contest is down from 16 last year to 14 this year due to more stringent standards imposed by event organizers.
Standard
“We have warned tribes that do not perform based on our standards that they will be disallowed from joining. This is part of our efforts to ensure that we exceed the performances of the previous year,” Jimena told the Inquirer on Monday.
The festival would also feature the performances of at least nine tribes in the Kasadyahan contest, a cultural parade on January 22.
Jimena said among the festival highlights are the costume design contest for “Dagoy,” the festival mascot, and the arts festival that will feature Ilonggo folk songs.
Ilonggos are also anticipating the “Luces in the Sky” fireworks display contest on January 20-21 that will include entries from local and international fireworks manufacturers.
On Monday, Ati-Atihan tribes gave city residents a preview of their performances in the “Pamukaw” event along the main streets of the city.
Major changes
In the capital town of Kalibo in Aklan, major changes are also expected in the Ati-Atihan Festival.
The private sector is taking the lead in organizing this year’s events, Albert Menez, chair of the Kalibo Sto. Niño Ati-Atihan Foundation Inc. (Kasafi), said in a telephone interview on Monday.
Menez cited the setting up of a 24-hour flea market section along Veterans Street in Kalibo among the festival’s modifications as part of the measures to decongest the main streets for tribe performances and the festival’s famed street dancing and merry-making.
The organizers will also offer day tour packages for tourists of Boracay who want to join the festival which will include round-trip transportation from Boracay to Kalibo, meals, a tour in the town and street dancing.
Menez said organizers were also doing away with the parade-format of the Ati tribe contest on January 16 and have adopted a free-style contest wherein tribes would dance the whole day in the streets without a defined route and direction. This would enable more revelers and tourists to participate in the street dancing.
“The Kalibo Ati-Atihan is not a parade. It’s dancing anywhere,” Menez said.
The festivals, among those held annually in January to profess devotion to the Child Jesus Sto. Niño, would include more events and activities, according to organizers.
The Ati-Atihan Festival will peak on January 10-16 while the Dinagyang Festival will culminate on January 17-23.
Iloilo City tourism officer Ben Jimena, spokesperson of the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. (IDFI), said guests and spectators could expect better performances especially in the Dinagyang Ati tribe competition on January 23.
This year’s festival carries the theme “Iloilo’s Finest, Nation’s Best,” referring to Dinagyang’s distinction of repeatedly being cited as the country’s best tourism event by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines.
The number of competing tribes in the Ati tribe contest is down from 16 last year to 14 this year due to more stringent standards imposed by event organizers.
Standard
“We have warned tribes that do not perform based on our standards that they will be disallowed from joining. This is part of our efforts to ensure that we exceed the performances of the previous year,” Jimena told the Inquirer on Monday.
The festival would also feature the performances of at least nine tribes in the Kasadyahan contest, a cultural parade on January 22.
Jimena said among the festival highlights are the costume design contest for “Dagoy,” the festival mascot, and the arts festival that will feature Ilonggo folk songs.
Ilonggos are also anticipating the “Luces in the Sky” fireworks display contest on January 20-21 that will include entries from local and international fireworks manufacturers.
On Monday, Ati-Atihan tribes gave city residents a preview of their performances in the “Pamukaw” event along the main streets of the city.
Major changes
In the capital town of Kalibo in Aklan, major changes are also expected in the Ati-Atihan Festival.
The private sector is taking the lead in organizing this year’s events, Albert Menez, chair of the Kalibo Sto. Niño Ati-Atihan Foundation Inc. (Kasafi), said in a telephone interview on Monday.
Menez cited the setting up of a 24-hour flea market section along Veterans Street in Kalibo among the festival’s modifications as part of the measures to decongest the main streets for tribe performances and the festival’s famed street dancing and merry-making.
The organizers will also offer day tour packages for tourists of Boracay who want to join the festival which will include round-trip transportation from Boracay to Kalibo, meals, a tour in the town and street dancing.
Menez said organizers were also doing away with the parade-format of the Ati tribe contest on January 16 and have adopted a free-style contest wherein tribes would dance the whole day in the streets without a defined route and direction. This would enable more revelers and tourists to participate in the street dancing.
“The Kalibo Ati-Atihan is not a parade. It’s dancing anywhere,” Menez said.
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