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Kalibo sets stage for ‘Señor Santo Niño Ati-atihan Festival’ highlights on Jan. 20-21

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KALIBO, Aklan (PIA) -- The local government of Kalibo is all set for this year's Kalibo Señor Santo Niño Ati-atihan Festival on January 20-21.

The week leading to the third Sunday of January, Aklan’s capital town of Kalibo celebrates Señor Santo Niño Ati-atihan Festival, which is believed to be more than 800 years old.

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Ati-atihan is a Visayan term that specifically came from the words “Ati” referring to the indigenous Ati people of Panay Island, and “Atihan” which means “to make noise” thus, the word Ati-atihan connotes making one’s self like the Ati or Aeta while having a lively celebration.

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) considered the Kalibo Señor Santo Niño Ati-atihan Festival as the impetus and inspiration for the creation of other festivals like the Dinagyang of Iloilo, the Sinulog in Cebu, and other Filipino festivities. 

The Kalibo Señor Santo Niño Ati-atihan is a weeklong celebration of street dancing along with the rhythm of drumbeats known as “sadsad" and different activities set by the local government.

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Police officers thoroughly check individuals before entering the Festival Zone Area. This is one of the security measures implemented during the festival to ensure safe and orderly celebration of the of Kalibo Señor Santo Niño Ati-atihan Festival. (PIA Aklan file photo)
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On January 20, the “Bisperas it Kapiestahan ni Señor Sto. Niño de Kalibo” will start with a dawn penitential procession at 4:00 a.m. along the streets of Kalibo and a Devotees’ mass will follow at 5 a.m. at the St. John the Baptist Cathedral.

At 8:00 a.m., the Kalibo Sadsad Ati-Atihan contest will commence and the blessing of tribes and pilgrims will be from 8:30 a.m. onwards. The blessing of children will take place at 11 a.m. and at noon there will be a Hornada or rhythmic drumbeating, then a Vesper Mass at 5 p.m.

For the “Kaadlawan it Kapiestahan ni Señor Sto. Niño de Kalibo” on January 21, a Pilgrims Mass in Kalibo Cathedral grounds will be held at 7:00 a.m. followed by a grand procession at 9:00 a.m.

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Kalibo mayor Juris Bautista Sucro shouts Viva kay Señor Santo Niño during the "Kaadlawan it Kapiestahan ni Señor Sto. Niño de Kalibo" pilgrim’s mass at the Kalibo Cathedral grounds. (PIA Aklan file photo)
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On the same day, there will be a religious procession and torch parade at 3:00 p.m. along Kalibo streets and a closing liturgy rite at 9:00 p.m.

The Kalibo Señor Santo Niño Ati-atihan activities for this year will conclude with an awarding ceremony for winners of the different contests at 10:00 p.m. at the Magsaysay Park.

Kalibo Tourism Officer Ann Isada revealed that as of January 11 this year, hotels and lodging houses within the Kalibo proper as well as big hotels such as Marzon, Vanyard, and the like are fully booked.

“We are expecting more tourists and

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devotees to celebrate with us this Ati-atihan as compared to last year, and as what we have expected, hotels and accommodation establishments here in Kalibo are fully booked as early as the first week of January,” Isada added.

The participation of LGU-Kalibo in the Philippine Travel Mart in September 2023 contributed a lot to the increase in tourist arrivals in the capital town this month, according to Isada. (AGP/SQP/PIA Aklan)

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Sheila Patoza

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