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| Ati-Atihan volunteers are getting ready for the 2016 Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan festival celebration / PHOTO TOTO LAO |
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL
With less than six months to
go before the 2016 Kalibo Sto. Niño Ati-Atihan festival, organizers are gearing
up for the biggest festival yet.
The festival will take place January
8 to 17 next year in honor of Senor Sto. Niño de Kalibo.
This July, Kasafi through chairman
Albert Menez had formed the Ati-Atihan meetings and started to negotiate with
TV networks and sponsors for the festival.
Menez said the festival
committee members are involved in the planning, organizing and promoting of the
events. This is the sixth year that
Kasafi partnered with the local government of Kalibo led by Mayor William
Lachica to manage the “Mother of All Philippine Festivals”.
This year and every year,
thousands of devotees have attended the religious and tourism events. Along
with Sto. Niño devotees, the festival has grown year-on-year and attracts numerous
tourists from across the country and abroad.
The Ati-Atihan in Kalibo, Aklan, they said, is
a unique opportunity for them to get to know the local culture and experience the
celebration.
Menez said the Ati-Atihan
festival will kick-start on October this year for the opening salvo, giving
visitors a glimpse of the forthcoming festival. With the support of Ati-Atihan
stakeholders, Kasafi is on track to attract first time and
repeat visitors in large numbers owing to the numerous upcoming festival events taking place.
The headliners of the 2016 Ati-Atihan
festival are the tribal and group street dancing contest, pilgrims mass,
nine-day novena for Senor Sto. Nino, Hala Bira Ati-Atihan nights, Sinaot sa
Kalye, Aklan Festivals parade and Higante Contest, Mutya it Kalibo Ati-Atihan
pageant and coronation night, Ati-Atihan flea market and religious procession.
People can also buy traditional
products, foods and exhibit which are on display for the festival.
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