By BOY RYAN B. ZABAL
KALIBO, Aklan — Organizers of the 2015 Ati-Atihan Festival were expecting the street dancing contest to be merrier than those in the previous years.
Seventeen tribe leaders graced the first meeting of street dancing participants at the Kalibo Sto. Niño Ati-Atihan Foundation, Inc.’s (Kasafi) office here.
“The Ati-Atihan tribes have been preparing for next year’s festival as early as July (this year),” said Kasafi chair Albert Menez. “They are ready to display their creative costumes and to pitch their rhythmic drumbeats by January.”
Represented during the meeting were Pangawasan Tribe, Vikings, Lezo Tribe, Malipayong Ati, Maharlika, Lilo-anong Ati ag ro Mananggeti, and D’Kamanggahan Tribe.
Also present were leaders of Kabog, Black Beauty Boys, Tribu Ninolitos, Alibangbang, Anono-o, Malogonians, Piktaw-Piktaw, The Andagao City, Tribu Bukid Tigayon, and Tribu Bakhaw Sur.
The street dancers participate to fulfill their panaad for Señor Santo Niño de Kalibo. Twenty-five tribes participated this year.
Menez said there will be a workshop and critiquing among Ati-Atihan tribe costume designers under local designer Nina Candelario.
Kasafi provides subsidies to competing tribes for their transportation, food, costume, and allowance.
Thousands of pilgrims and devotees also flocked to Kalibo during the weeklong festivities. Menez said the religious fervor that comes with Ati-Atihan sets it apart from other festivals in the region.
Ati-Atihan has grown into a major event not only in Aklan but also in Canada, Middle East, and California and New York in the United States where there are overseas Aklanons. (Aklan Forum Journal/PN)
