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BY BOY RYAN ZABAL
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KALIBO, Aklan – A variety of bigger religious and tourism activities will be held during the nine-day celebration of the annual Kalibo Ati-Atihan Festival.
Volunteers under the Kalibo Sto. Niño Ati-Atihan Foundation, Inc. (Kasafi) are in the thick of preparations for the activities from Jan. 6 to 15, 2017.
On Jan. 6 the “Mother of all Philippine Festivals” kicks off with a nine-day devotional novena, community vigils, parish visitations of Señor Santo Niño, and the traditional paeapak.
Kasafi chairman Albert Menez said 16 candidates in Mutya it Kalibo Ati-Atihan will compete for the title during the grand finale 7 p.m. at the ABL Sports and Cultural Center.
Festival-goers for the Air Asia Red Hot Party Kalibo 2017 will party all night on Jan. 7 at the Pastrana Park, while Sikad Karera for bike enthusiasts will take place 7 a.m. on Jan. 8, followed by car show, bikers’ rally, Ati-Atihan fun run in the afternoon.
Hala Bira Ati-Atihan Nights, with several Pinoy rock bands performing, will be held starting Jan. 9 at the Magsaysay Park.
Aklan Visual Arts Exhibit at Museo it Akean, Aklan Street Bazaar along Veterans Avenue, Kaean-an sa Plaza, and Aklan Products Showcase at the Pastrana Park will open on Jan. 9 and run through the 15th.
SangKalibong Tamboe and Ati-Atihan float parade will take place on Jan. 9, while the Pagdayaw kay Señor Santo Niño of various schools will be held the following day along major streets of this capital town.
In addition, there will be a Sarok film festival from Jan. 9 to 15 for videographers, filmmakers and budding artists to shoot the cultural and religious festival.
Students and teachers will compete in Sinaot sa Calle it mga Magueang ag Inungang Ati of the Department of Education – Division of Aklan on Jan. 11 and 12, while a contest of Higantes (giant papier-mâché figures) will be in the afternoon of Jan. 12.
Moreover the whole-day Sadsad Pasaeamat kay Señor Santo Niño on Jan. 13 will start the big three days leading to the grand celebration.
On Jan. 14 a dawn penitential procession will signal the start of Bisperas it Kapistahan ni Señor Santo Niño at 4 a.m., followed by the must-see Sadsad Ati-Atihan street dancing contest at 8 a.m.
Thousands of devotees and visitors may witness the transfer of the Santo Niño de Kalibo image at 6:30 a.m. before the concelebrated Pilgrims Mass at the Parish of St. John the Baptist Cathedral grounds around 7 a.m. on Jan. 15.
At 2 p.m. devotees with their Santo Niño images and merrymakers with their caros will join the religious procession-dance.
Winners in the street dancing competition will be announced 9 p.m. on Jan. 15 at the Magsaysay Park. (Aklan Forum Journal/PN)
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