2011 Kalibo Ati festival
Nabas town leads Higante contest and Aklan Festivals Parade winners
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Cultural performers from the town of Nabas (left) was adjudged Best in Festival Presentation in the Aklan Festivals Parade and Higante Contest in celebration of the 2011 Kalibo Senor Sto. Ati-Atihan Festival / PHOTOS BY BOY RYAN ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan – The town of Nabas led the winners of the 2011 Higante Contest and Aklan Festivals Parade sponsored by the provincial government of Aklan on Thursday afternoon.
“Ibong Adarna” was the grand winner in the Higante contest (LGU category). Nabas mayor Romeo Dalisay received the major prize of P40,000 from Aklan Governor Carlito Marquez, Vice Governor Gabrielle Calizo-Quimpo, Aklan Rep. Florencio Miraflores and Provincial Tourism Council co-chairman Vicky Ramos-Antonino.

The first runner-up was ‘Kataw: Diosa it Kadagatan’ of the town of Buruanga followed by 'Peter Pan and Tinker Bell' of the town of Libacao.

The P35,000 prize was received by Buruanga mayor Quezon Labindao. The second runner-up prize of P30,000 was also awarded to Libacao mayor Charito Navarosa.
Ro Tag Lugar it Balete (Balete), Spiderman (Kalibo), Aladin (Malinao), Princess Marina ‘Queen of Marine Life’ (Numancia), Peter Pan sa Katunggan (Ibajay) and Mermaid and Merman ‘Underwater’ (Malay) also received consolation prize of P5,000 each from the provincial government of Aklan.

The Higantes, bannered by this year's theme "Fantasy Characters and Tales," were judged on their relevance (25%), creativity (30%), artistry (30%) and audience impact/appeal (15%).
For the Individual ‘Balik-Higante’ category, Keann: ’Diwata ng Numancia National School of Fisheries’ was adjudged champion. The P10,000 prize was received by Luis Kenneth Tampos of Poblacion, Tangalan, Aklan.
‘Apo ni Datu Lubay’ was the first runner-up. The P7,000 prize was awarded to Dave Lachica of Poblacion, Balete, Aklan. The third prize was awarded to ‘Urbano’ designed by Reynold Igat of Biga-a, Malinao, Aklan. He received P5,000.

Other entries in the Individual 'Balik-Higante' contest were ‘Basura Man’ of Dave Lachica and ‘Princess Neptuna (Queen of the Sea) of Junie Ras from Numancia, Aklan.
The criteria for the Individual ‘Balik-Higante’ category were creativity (30%), authenticity (30%), artistry (30%) and audience impact and appeal (10%).
The individual higante entries must have a maximum height of 8 feet and made of Styrofoam, bamboos, paper mache or any recyclable and indigenous materials.
The judges for the Higante contest were Roy Escalona, president of Aklan Photographic Society (APS), Nina Candelario, proprietor of Baligyaan/Aklanon Lens; Ely Arensol, senior TESDA specialist; Peter Macrohon, UNESCO-ITI ASEAN Team Leader and the chairman of the board of judges, Estelita La’O, administrative section chief of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Aklan.

Earlier, the provincial government of Aklan gave P20,000 financial subsidy to participating municipalities with Higantes.
Meanwhile, the special award for Best Festival Presentation was bestowed to the town of Nabas (P10,000) followed by Ibajay (P7,000) and Numancia (P5,000).
Other municipalities – Batan, Buruanga, Libacao, Malinao and Kalibo also had their cultural presentation at the Kalibo Pastrana Park after the parade.

The judges for the Festival/Cultural Presentation were Shirley Halili-Cruz, chairman of the board of judges, head of the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Dance Committee; Marichu Tellano, chief Project Management Division of NCCA and Julian Felipe Simon Peralta, dance instructor of Starglow Center for Academics and the Arts.
The eight festival presentation entries were judged on their content and choreography (30%), performance and execution (30%), dynamics (20%), music, costume and props (10%) and audience impact (10%).
A minimum of twenty cultural/festival performers per group presented their routines and their judged during the course of the two-hour parade along the major streets of Kalibo.
According to Provincial Tourism Officer Karina Quimpo Ruiz, the Aklan Festivals Parade and Higante contest is one of the highlights of the 2011 Kalibo Ati-Atihan Festival in honor of Senor Sto. Nino.

The Higante contest winners, once again, will showcase their art forms on January 15.