Kalibo Sto. Niño
Ati-Atihan Festival 2012 is on January 9-15, 2012.
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| Image courtesy of kalibo.gov.ph |
The Ati Atihan Festival holds street dancing competitions from different groups called “tribu” (or tribe), and these performances are the main attraction of the entire celebration. Dancers in their flamboyant costumes, with headdresses made from indigenous materials, paint their bodies in black and dance along the streets of Kalibo. Almost all Philippine festivals of dancing, drum music and elaborate tribal costumes trace their origin back to the Ati Atihan Festival.
A total of 21 entries have been officially registered with the Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan Foundation, Inc. (Kasafi).
Early birds in the Balik Ati category are Kinantuing (San Roque, Malinao, Aklan), Tribu Isalacan (Lilo-an, Malinao, Aklan), Tribu Bakhaw Sur (Bakhaw Sur, Kalibo, Aklan), Anonoo Ati-Atihan (Briones, Kalibo, Aklan), Malipayong Ati (San Roque, Malinao, Aklan) and Lilo-anong Ati nga Mananggiti (Lilo-an, Malinao, Aklan).
One of the main attractions of Kalibo Ati-Atihan is the Balik Ati tribes, where the grand winner will receive P50,000, first runner-up P25,000 and the second runner-up P15,000.
Tribal Big category joining the competition are defending champion Tribu Bukid Tigayon, Lord Eagles (Dumga, Makato, Aklan), Tribu Alibangbang (Linabuan Norte, Kalibo, Aklan), D’ Kamanggahan Tribe (Poblacion, Makato, Aklan), Tribu Responde and Tribu Tiis-Tiis, both from New Buswang, Kalibo, Aklan.
These tribes will be vying for the top prize of P150,000, the biggest reward in the history of Kalibo Ati-Atihan. The second placer will get P80,000 and the third place P50,000.
Tribal Small category has five entries to date – Morongga Tribe (New Buswang, Kalibo, Aklan), Lezo Tribe (Ibao, Lezo, Aklan), Tribu Parola (Daja Norte, Banga, Aklan), Tribu Eamang (Estancia, Kalibo, Aklan), Tribu Ninolitos of Tigayon, Kalibo, Aklan).
The winner in the Tribal Small will receive P60,000, the second place P40,000 and the third placer P30,000.
Four entries led by Pilgrimage (Pook, Kalibo, Aklan), The Andagao City (Andagao, Kalibo, Aklan), Jimzon (Pusiw, Numancia, Aklan) and Samahan ng mga Kababaihan Bayan ng Kalibo (SKBK), Inc. registered with Kasafi in the Modern category.
The adjudged winner in the Modern category will receive P50,000, the first runner-up P25,000 and the second runner-up P15,000.
Other tribes interested in joining the festival are Black Beauty Boys, Tribu Hampakan, Maninikop Group and Kabog. Kasafi has allotted P1.444-million for cash prizes and subsidy to competing tribes for next year’s Ati-Atihan festival slated from January 9 to 15.
