Ati Atihan Festival

Philippine Festivals
●Fiesta is a part and parcel of Filipino culture. Through good times and bad
times, fiestas must always go on. Each city and barrio has at least of local
festival of its own, usually on the feast of its patron saint. That is why, there is
always a fiesta going on somewhere in the country.
●But the major and most elaborate festival of all is Christmas. It is a season
celebrated with all the display and show.
Ati-Atihan
• The word “ati-atihan” means is “to be
like atis” or “make believe atis”
• Considered to be the mother of all
Philippine Festivals
• Held annually – Third Sunday of January
in the Capital City of Aklan, Kalibo
• This is to honor Sto. Nino- Child Jesus
• Everyone who is their costume looks is
exceptional like an ancient warrior,
design beautifully and painted their
skin
• Loud music and banging of drums can be
heard in the streets.
History of Ati-Atihan Festival
In the 13th century, Huge amount of Malay datus out of Borneo arrived at Panay
Island during balangays, which they were able to cross over the ocean to flee the horrible reign
of Sultan Makatunaw. They’ve been also welcomed warmly from the people of Panay. Datu Puti,
Makatunaw’s who was the Chief Minister, he negotiates with them and make an agreement of
exchange with the locals and bought the land in exchange of Golden salakot, bales of clothes and
brass basins. Interesting thing happened when they gave a beautiful and charming very long
neckless to the spouse of Ati chieftain.There local residents even managed the property in order for
them to establish their residences on.
After some time, the Ati Local Residents started Facing Challenges as they have no food left due to
the bad harvest, they were famished and there was nothing to eat, so to fill their hunger they started
moving down from their mountain village. Interesting things happened when The Datus welcomed
them and gave them Food and drinks to eat, Ati People were very happy due their attitude so they
decided to give something in return and make them happy they painted their faces and arms
with black color and wear different colorful dresses only to look like them. Now annually this
celebration carried out in kalibo so show the unity bond between the two completely different
nations.
In 2012, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the ICHCAP of UNESCO published
Pinagmulan: Enumeration from the Philippine Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The first edition of
the UNESCO-backed book included the Ati-atihan Festival, signifying its great importance to Philippine
intangible cultural heritage. The local government of Aklan, in cooperation with the NCCA, is given the right
to nominate the Ati-atihan Festival in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists
The festival consists of tribal dance, music, accompanied by indigenous costumes and weapons, and parade along
the street. Christians and non-Christians observe this day with religious processions. It has inspired many other
Philippine Festivals including the Sinulog Festival of Cebu and Dinagyang of Iloilo City, both adaptations of the
Kalibo's Ati-Atihan Festival, and legally holds the title "The Mother of All Philippine Festivals" in spite of the other
two festivals' claims of the same title.
The costumes worn at the festival is patterned after the African tribal design like those seen at the Rio Carnaval.
The festivity was originally a pagan festival from this tribe practicing Animism, and their
worshiping their anito god. Spanish missionaries gradually added a Christian meaning.
Today, the Ati-Atihan is celebrated as a religious festival.
How Do they celebrate the Festival?
The 1st day Celebration is

normally Start with the mass, in
which there is drum beat people
wear ati atihan festival
costume even air is filled with
sound of ati atihan music and
there is Spiritual
street dancing (sadsad) and
parading of Locals and guests
who come there to join the
festival.
The 2nd day of the festival begun when
the first ray of light appears in the sky,
Festival start with novena. The
slogan “Hala Bira!” and “Pwera
Pasma!” is originally integrated
with Santo Nino Ati Festival. They
activities keep going on until next day
morning, people don’t see if there is rain
or sun heat they keep celebrating as they
believe that something bad things
cannot happens to them as they are
protected by the child Jesus.
The 3rd day is very important day of the
celebration and considered as cheerful and
lively day of all the Festival Celebration.
Almost Eighty Groups of Tribes compete
eagerly with each other as there is
one Million Philippine peso Prize is for the
winner group. So, people Dress up in colorful
and tribal costumes and some people paint
there face mostly with the Black Color to
represent and look like Ati’s People and wear
ati costume to show their presence and come
up on the roads by Parading and doing
spiritual ati atihan street dance.

Ati Atihan Festival

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Philippine Festivals

two festivals' claims of the same title.

The 1st day Celebration is

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