Ways of Celebrating Kalibo Atiatihan

Kalibo's way of celebrating Ati-atihan

The Ati-Atihan is a festival in honour of the Santo Niño, celebrated in the third week of January. During the last three days of this week-long festival (fiesta), a parade is characteristic. A colourful happening with celebrants who paint their faces in many different ways and who are dressed in the most exceptional costumes. The dancing on the rhythms of the drums makes this festival comparable with carnival in Rio in Brazil!

The fiesta is celebrated in Kalibo on the island of Panay (Visayas). 

After the Spaniards settled down in the Philippines, some Catholic elements infiltrated in the fiesta, especially honoring Santo Niño. A Spanish representative arranged a deal with the local leaders of the Atis and the leader of the immigrants from Borneo. The outcome of the deal was, that in the future the existing native celebration would be dedicated to the Santo Niño. Nowadays it is a mix of parades, procession and dancing people on the rhythms of monotonous music of  drums or the rhythmic tinkling of metal and stone on bottles. It looks as if the dancing never stops! The ritual dance originates from the Atis.  The name Ati-Atihan means "make-believe Atis."  

 It is said that the procession is the climax of the fiesta. It is held on the last Sunday. The  street dancers never fail to enter the Kalibo church every time they pass by.