Devotees await final dates of 2015 Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan fest

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Preparations for the apostolic visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines in 2015 are underway. 

The good news is “this is not a cancellation of the Kalibo Ati-Atihan festivities in honor of Senor Sto. Nino.”

Pope Francis will visit the country from January 15 to 19, which marks also the celebration of the famous Ati-Atihan festival in Kalibo, Aklan from January 9 to 18.

Although, the dates for next year’s Ati-Atihan festival are fixed, the Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan Foundation, Inc. (Kasafi), Diocese of Kalibo and the municipal government of Kalibo will decide whether or not the festival will be rescheduled at a later date.

If  the Kalibo festival will get new dates, the events will also cross over with the celebration of Dinagyang in Iloilo City and many other fiestas in the region.

Kasafi chairman Albert Menez said “the final festival dates will be known this month since the Ati-Atihan festival is fast approaching.”

Volunteers of Kasafi, he said, are likely “to support the best interest of the devotees, visitors and residents.” 

This early, some balikbayans already have their round-trip tickets for the feast of Senor Sto. Nino in Kalibo next year, which is usually scheduled every third Sunday of January, said Kalibo Vice Mayor Madeline Regalado.

Kalibo councilor Augusto Tolentino, for instance, has said “there is overwhelming view that devotees and visitors would prefer the traditional dates of the Kalibo Ati-Atihan festival since the celebration is something special for them.”

Menez said “the festival events will go ahead as planned as the streets of the town of Kalibo will be adorned with papal colors – yellow and white - and the message of Pope Francis of his compassion and mercy to the faithful and devotees of Senor Sto.Nino.”

“Pope Francis visit here in the Philippines is a blessing and a great joy for our country,” he added.

Menez said “the volunteers remain committed to the festival and was always a big task for them to put everything together within five months.” 

Rev. Fr. Cesar Echegaray, Chancellor at Diocese of Kalibo, said “Pope Francis wants to visit areas affected by super typhoon Yolanda on January 2015.”

Kalibo Bishop Jose Corazon Tala-oc is getting the consensus of the clergy and the Ati-Atihan festival organizers given the confirmed schedule of Pope Francis visit to the Philippines next year, he said.  

The trip would be Pope Francis' first visit to the country since becoming pope in March 2013. The papal visit is the third visit to the Philippines of a pontiff after Pope Paul VI in 1970 and Pope John Paul II in 1981 and in 1995 during the World Youth Day in Manila.