More Ati tribes to participate in Kalibo festival
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan – With a week to go before the January 7 deadline for registration, more Ati tribes are expected to participate in Aklan’s premier festival.

So far, 18 tribes have registered for the Kalibo Ati-Atihan Festival slated on January 10 to 16 with festival organizer Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan Foundation, Inc. (Kasafi).

Kasafi chair on committee on group participation Dennis Dalida said tribe participants with their colorful costumes will be judged on January 14 to 15.

Joining Tribu Ilanyahon (Malandayon, Malinao, Aklan) in the Balik Ati group contest are Kinantuing (San Roque, Malinao, Aklan), Liloanong Ati ag si Datu Marikudo (Liloan, Malinao, Aklan), Malipayong Ati (San Roque, Malinao, Aklan) and Apo ni Inday (Calangcang, Makato, Aklan).

Last year, Liloanong Ati nga Mananggiti topped the Balik Ati category followed by Salimuno Falls group and Tribu Isalacan while Apo ni Inday, Kinantu-ing, and Tribu Ilayanhon went home with consolation prizes.
For the Tribal Small category, Tribu Hampakan "King of Spider" (formerly Tribu Eamang) will defend its title against Tribu Bukid Tigayon (Tigayon, Kalibo, Aklan), Lezo Tribe (Ibao, Lezo, Aklan), Tribu Parola (Daja Norte, Banga, Aklan), Tribu Responde (New Buswang, Kalibo, Aklan), Tribu Alibang-bang (Linabuan Norte, Kalibo, Aklan), Tribu Ninolitos (Tigayon, Kalibo, Aklan) and Morongga Tribe (New Buswang, Kalibo, Aklan).
Five contesting tribes – Tribu Tiis-Tiis (New Buswang, Kalibo, Aklan), Pangawasan Tribe (Cayangwan, Makato, Aklan), D’Kamanggahan Tribe (Poblacion, Makato, Aklan), Libtong Boys (Estancia, Kalibo, Aklan) and Lord Eagles (Dumga, Makato, Aklan) have so far registered for the Tribal Big competition.

Last year, Kabog was declared champion in the Tribal Big group competition. Kabog dominated Libtong Boys, Black Beauty Boys. Tribu Tiis-Tiis, Pangawasan Tribe, Tribu Alibangbang and Lord Eagles for the grand prize.

Meanwhile, Kasafi already released the subsidy to the tribes who will compete in next week's Ati-Atihan festival. With Kasafi managing the world-renowned Ati-Atihan festival, as much as P500,000 financial support were given to the tribes to augment their Ati-Atihan uniforms and participation.

Tribal Small groups received P16,500, Balik-Ati tribes got P11,000, Tribal Big with P27,500 subsidy, Modern Big P6,000 and Modern Small P5,500.