Black Beauty Boys, Tribu Bukid Tigayon lead winners of 2011 Kalibo Ati-Atihan festival

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan - The Black Beauty Boys was declared grand champion in the Tribal Big category in the recently-concluded Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan Festival this year.
The Ati tribe from Linabuan Norte, this town, bested perennial titlist Kabog (Estancia, Kalibo, Aklan) and six other competing tribes for the P70,000 grand prize. Kabog received P40,000 while the P30,000 cash prize for third place was awarded to Libtong Boys of Estancia, Kalibo, Aklan.
Three consolation prizes - Tribu Tiis-Tiis (New Buswang, Kalibo, Aklan) and two out-of town tribes - Maharlika Tribe and Lord Eagles, both of Dumga, Makato, Aklan, won P10,000 each.

Other contesting tribes in Tribal Big category were Pangawasan Tribe of Cayangwan, Makato, Aklan and D'Kamanggahan Tribe of Poblacion, Makato, Aklan.
In the Balik-Ati category, Lilo anong Ati ag si Datu Marikudo of Liloan, Malinao, Aklan was bestowed the grand prize of P30,000 among seven tribes followed by Malipayong Ati of San Roque, Malinao, Aklan with P15,000 cash prize.
Kinantuing Group, also of San Roque, Malinao, Aklan, went home the P10,000 prize for second runner-up. Tribu Ilayanhon (Malandayon, Malinao, Aklan), Tribu Isalacan (Lilo-an, Malinao, Aklan) and Maninikop (Caano, Kalibo, Aklan) were awarded P3,000 each as consolation prizes.
Apo ni Inday of Calangcang, Makato, Aklan also joined the Balik-Ati contest this year.
Meanwhile, Scorpio 11-19 (Goding Ramos Street, Poblacion, Kalibo, Aklan) led the winners for the Modern group category with P30,000 grand prize.

Aeang-Aeang group from Laguinbanua West, Numancia, Aklan was in second place with P15,000 prize followed by Adlaw Gabii ni John from Poblacion, Tangalan, Aklan with P10,000.

Consolation prize winners were Enchanting (Toting Reyes Street, Kalibo, Aklan) and Kababaihan it Kalibo (New Buswang, Kalibo, Aklan), both received P3,000.

In the Tribal Small category, Tribu Bukid Tigayon bested nine other contesting tribes for the P40,000 grand prize.

Morongga Tribe from New Buswang, Kalibo, Aklan also bagged the P25,000 prize for first runner-up while Tribu Alibangbang from Linabuan Norte, Kalibo, Aklan was declared second runner-up with P20,000 prize.

Tribu Osman-ians Copradiros (Osman, Malinao, Aklan), Tribu Hampakan "King of Spider" (Estancia, Kalibo, Aklan) and Tribu Responde (New Buswang, Kalibo, Aklan) were consolation winners. They received P7,000 each.

Other Ati tribes in Tribal Small category were Lezo Tribe (Ibao, Lezo, Aklan), Tribu Parola (Daja Norte, Banga, Aklan), Tribu Ninolitos (Tigayon, Kalibo, Aklan) and Tribu Tipon-Tipon (Ibao, Lezo, Aklan).

In the Individual category, Absurungsong for Most Comical (Rex Manares of Aliputos, Numancia, Aklan) and Fantastica for Most Fantastic (Jomar Melgar of Polo, New Washington, Aklan) received P2,000 each.

Jungle Tribe (Alex Sabino of C. Laserna Street, Poblacion, Kalibo, Aklan) and The Golden Sarok (Flash Florentino of Poblacion, Kalibo, Aklan were declared co-winners for Most Symbolic. Most Original award went to Authentic Customized Ati.

Butterfly Queen (Frankelyn Avelarde of Mambuquiao, Batan, Aklan) and Recycled Queen (Jay Romer Carsola of Cawayan, New Washington, Aklan) were co-winners for Most Modern. All winners in the Individual category received P2,000 each.

Festival organizer Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan Foundation, Inc. (Kasafi) initially allocated P411,000 for cash prizes in the Ati-Atihan contest, but, it was increased to P415,000 to accommodate co-winners in the individual category.