KALIBO, Aklan – The Sto. Niño Ati-Atihan Festival here next month will be scaled down.
Due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) health and safety issues, some regular festival activities will be scrapped, including the popular tribes street dancing, to discourage mass gatherings of tourists and devotees.
Ati-Atihan is a major tourism event in the capital town of Kalibo. Annually, it attracts thousands of people enjoying street dancing to the rhythmic beat of drums.
There will be no Higante contest, Sinaot sa Kalye, flea market, Ati-Atihan Nights and motorshow.
However, Father Jose Tudd Belandres of the St. John the Baptist Cathedral Parish Team Ministry said the festival’s religious activities will push through “in accordance with health guidelines and protocols.”
In previous years, the “pilgrims mass” was celebrated at the Kalibo Cathedral (also known as the Cathedral of St. Joseph the Baptist) front yard. Due to the current pandemic, however, it will be held inside the cathedral with attendees filling up only 50 percent of its seating capacity.
“Challenging times” was how Father Belandres described the current situation.
The paeapak usually held outside the cathedral – an age-old faith healing rite where droves of devotees await their turn to be blessed by a lay minister with a wooden image of Señor Sto. Niño – will be held inside the Señor Sto. Niño Shrine.
The religious procession will be modified. It will only be participated by Sto. Niño images and caros. No devotees will be allowed to join. Instead, they would be encouraged to just watch the procession and light candles.
They may also just wait for the Sto. Niño images to return to the cathedral by the end of the procession.
Religious masses in barangay chapels and daily devotional novenas at the cathedral will push through but in accordance with the public health safety guidelines.
Pilgrims, at all times, are urged to practice social distancing, wear facemasks and face shields.
The 2021 Ati-Atihan theme is “Pagpasaeamat, Pagdayaw ag Debosyon kay Señor Sto. Niño”./PN
