HISTORY
OF ATI-ATIHAN
Going
back to the 13th century, the region of Aklan was populated mostly by the
Negritos, but soon ended upon the arrival of foreigners in “baeangays” or
barangays headed by the ten Datus from Borneo aboard the boats seeking for better
opportunity in life. Their arrivals resulted in a bloody clash, but later
on, both the foreigners and the Maraynons started to have a peace talk
with the aborigines which was accepted by the latter that resulted in a
peaceful life originally desired by all of them. Thus, the start of the
first “Ati-Atihan” in celebration of a sealed peace pact uniting the two races
and peoples, the Aetas and the Malays, who have totally different cultures and
spiritual creeds.
Later
on, “Ati-Atihan” Festival was held on harvest season. However, at the time of
Spaniards, the first Spanish encomiendero of Aklan by the name of Don Flores
made an arrangement with Datu Malanga and Madayag to date the festival during
the feast of the Holy Child Jesus. From then on, the historical and religious
festivity is observed every second week with its culmination on the Third
Sunday of January after the Three Kings.
The
celebration happens mostly in the streets where the townsfolk and foreigners
mingle while singing, dancing, and jogging completely dressed in colorful
and strange costumes while others use soot to cover their bodies and faces,
pretending themselves as that of Aetas, in expression of their desire for a
harmonious living with the natives, together with the beatings of the drum,
can, and tom-toms as they shout “Viva kay Señor Santo Niño!”
The origin
In the
thirteenth century, long before the Spaniards came to the Philippines, light-skinned
immigrants from the island of Borneo (Kalimantan) in Indonesia arrived on
Panay. The local people of Panay, the Ati (negritos), a small and dark
(black) kinky-haired people, sold them a small piece of land and allowed
them to settle down in the lowlands. The Atisthemselves, lived more
upland in the mountains.
One time
the Ati people was in need of food because of a bad harvest in their
homelands. They came down to the lowlands of the Maraynon and asked
them food. Every year since then, the Atis came down to the lowland
inhabitants to ask for some food. They danced and sang in gratitude for the
helping hand. A real friendship was born and
the Maraynon started to paint their faces black in
honor of the Atis and took part in the fiesta.
HALA BIRA, PUERA PASMA!
By midmorning, small
groups gather in their respective neighborhoods. They are prodded by drums as
they dance their way to the town center. They grow in numbers as different
groups from outlying areas merge into one as they get closer to the center of
town. Sometimes the crowd thins as a few drop out to worship in silence and
offer themselves to their own gods. But they always come back to rejoin the
group to disappear in the gyrating mob. The dancing never stops.
All week long, celebrants arrive by land, sea, and air. As
inter-island boats dock, they are greeted by pseudo-New Guinea tribal drummers.
Tourists are ferried across rice fields and coconut plantations to Kalibo
hotels while others are accommodated in private homes and public buildings.
Others camp on the beach. By weekend all accommodations are gone although there
seems to be no need for them as nobody bothers to sleep anyway. There is music
everywhere and the rowdy crowd often finds itself inside improvised halls
dancing all night long.
The steady beat of drums can sometimes be heard late in the night
as a lone drummer is suddenly inspired to pick up the rhythm. Or perhaps it is
only the drum in his own head that one hears as alcohol begins to numb the
senses.
VIVA EL SEÑOR SANTO
NIÑO!
Celebrants
ape the dance of the Atis, hence the name Ati-Atihan which
means "make-believe Atis." This ritual is said to be
the result of the sale of land in Panay by the Ati chieftain
Marikudo to Datu Puti and the Borneans so that they can have a place to settle.
How did
the Santo Niño come into this pagan celebration? Is this a
Christian feast or a pagan ritual where devil-outfitted participants dance
hand-in-hand with old ladies in sarongs and young colegialas, arm-in-arm
with dirty naked men, swig San Miguel beer and White Castle whiskey as their
fathers in miniskirts and their mothers in elaborate headdresses watch? An
uncle in a World War II guerilla uniform and a brother wearing a rubber Nixon
mask may also be watching, unconcerned.
The celebration uncontrollably builds to the "bedlam of its
climax-- the torch-lit Sunday procession," says Gabriel Casal, O.S.B., in
his article in Filipino Heritage. Casal observes that the unyielding
street dancers never fail to enter the Kalibo church every time they pass by.
Repeated shouts of "Viva kay Santo Niño!" and placards carried around with the
same slogan make it known to everybody that this profane merriment is the
participants' raucous way of honoring theSanto
Niño.
KALIBO’S WAY OF CELEBRATING FIESTA
Ati-Atihan is making one's self like the Ati or Aeta or
pretending to be one. Kalibo's "frenzied and raucous" historical and
religious festivity observed every second week and culminating on the 3rd
Sunday of January came from that intent. Citizens, tourist and pilgrims in this
town smear themselves with soot or any blackening substance to look like an
Aeta.
Ati-Atihan is believed to have started in the year 1212 when Borneans led by the ten Datuspacked themselves in several boats or "baeangays,"
(barangay) and crossed the seas to escape the unpopular regime of Sultan
Makatunaw. They landed in Panay Island and established the first community of
the brown race in this country and the first union of states in Southeast Asia
— the Confederation of Madyaas.
Few have the knowledge that the first Ati-Atihan was celebrated
to seal a peace pact that united two races and peoples — the Aetas and the
Malays with totally different cultures and spiritual creeds — to embrace each
other and give way to an enduring legacy of reconciliation that gave birth to
the Philippine nation. The commemoration of the Ati-Atihan festivals in essence
has become significant when the entire nation is being swept with social,
economic and political crises.
The saga of this great migration told and related for generation
started in the Court of Brunei under the regime of Sultan Makatunaw whose
insecurity and greed for power transformed him into tyrant after the collapse
of the Sri-Visayan empire and the remnants of its vast territory were at the
mercy of the conquering hordes of Madjapahit warriors. The widespread
discontent under Makatunaw's rule reached the point of a popular uprising and
Datu Puti, his chief minister, with his followers decided to leave and seek
peace in a new land.
Held in the month of January, Ati Atihan is one of the
famous festivals of Philippines. Held in honor of Santo Niño (Infant Jesus), it
is amongst the wildest fiestas of the state. The literal meaning of Ati Atihan
is make believe Atis, is week long festival celebrated with full vigor. A
festival to watch out for, especially the parade where celebrants paint their
mouth with different colour.
Often
considered as the fun and colorful festival, ATI ATIHAN is visited by number of
travelers from all across the world in order to view the splendour of this
festival held in Philippines. Also known as the Filipino Mardis Gras, it is an
annual fest that takes place in 3rd Weekend of January every year in Kalibo,
Aklan Panay Island. It rejoices the arrival or gift of the Santo Niño by
Magellan to the native Queen of Cebu in 1521 and is celebrated by hyperactive
merriment on the streets
What
makes it different from other festivals is the informal outlook where anyone
can participate the fest with full zest. The main attractions of the festival
is the the native dance competitions pitched to rhythmic and mesmerizing
drumbeats that run nonstop for several days.
ACTIVITIES BEFORE AND AFTER
ATI-ATIHAN
 |
| Body Painting Competition |
Poster Making Contest
CREATIVE
MINDS. The top three winners of the on-the-spot Ati-Ati Poster Making Contest,
with Kalibo Vice Mayor Madeline Regalado and KASAFI secretary Mila Balleza.
9-DAY NOVENA
January
11 to 20, 2013
4 PM Cathedral Parish of Saint John the Baptist
4 PM Cathedral Parish of Saint John the Baptist
Faithful
pay homage to the Señor Santo Niño de Kalibo for a nine-day devotional novena
in the Cathedral Parish of Saint John the Baptist, marking the start of the
religious celebration of the glorious Sto. Niño Ati-Atihan festival.
PAEAPAK
In
front of Cathedral Parish of Saint John the Baptist
A
unique age-old Christian tradition where a Catholic priest or a lay minister
rubs all parts of a devotee’s body with the image of the miraculous Señor Santo
Niño de Kalibo. It attracts devotees from all faiths worldwide for it is
believed to heal both body and soul.
MUTYA AG LAKAN
IT KALIBO ATI-ATIHAN
Eagerly awaited grand finale where
equally young and talented finalists in the running to be crowned the Mutya ag
Lakan it Kalibo Ati-Atihan 2013. A mix of beauty and brains, twenty-four
aspirants will fulfill their dreams in an evening of glamour and star-studded
coronation night.
AKLAN FESTIVALS PARADE
A celebration of the diverse, fascinating and captivating Aklan’s ‘One Town, One Festival’ in a street parade of contingent, making this event exciting, where it showcases the different colors and cultures of the 17 towns of Aklan.
GMA KAPUSO ATI-ATIHAN NIGHT
An exhibit by established and upcoming Aklanon artists featuring over a hundred art works depicting the cultural and historical richness of the province of Aklan.
HALA BIRA ATI-ATIHAN NIGHTS
A
never-ending excitement of snake-dancing, revelry of foods and drinks with
nightly concerts by national and local bands.
Students and teachers from Aklan State University keep the spirit of Ati-Atihan in street dancing parade
KALIBO ATI-ATIHAN STREET BAZAAR
A day-and-night street bazaar with a wide array of products by local entrepreneurs for sale at affordable and bargain prices.
‘Sinaot saCalle’ of the
students and teachers of Department of Education with their faces and bodies
covered in soot and accompanied by the festive beating of the Ati-Atihan drums.
AKLAN HIGANTE CONTESt
A parade of Higantes and individuals dressed in giant ecological tourism-themed images. Through the years, the most beautiful and impressive Higantes designed by the municipalities of Aklan, make their way in the Kalibo Ati-Atihan festival.
SADSAD
PAGPASAEAMAT KAY SR. STO. NINO
The
true spirit of devotion to Señor Santo Niño de Kalibo by socio-civic groups,
balikbayans, religious and people from all walks of life.
DAWN PENITENTIAL
PROCESSION
Praying
of the rosary by devotees and pilgrims before the Ati-Atihan festival music
rises into a crescendo.
Street
dancing contest comes alive with tribe members dress up in their vibrant and
colorful costumes, their bodies and faces painted with soot as they dance to
the unique Ati-Atihan beat of the drums.
TRANSFER OF SANTO NINO IMAGE AND PILGRIMS’ MASS
“Musyon
ga Santo Niño ag ga Ati-Ati Kita”
Concelebrated Pilgrims’ Mass offering where devotees, guests and tourists flock in solidarity with Ati-Atihan tribes as they take part in the highest form of Catholic workship, the High Mass celebration.
Concelebrated Pilgrims’ Mass offering where devotees, guests and tourists flock in solidarity with Ati-Atihan tribes as they take part in the highest form of Catholic workship, the High Mass celebration.
RELIGIOUS PROCESSION AND DANCE
“Pagsapoe,
Pagpaeapak, Pagpangamuyo ag Pagpasaeamatkay Santo Niño, PagBendisyonni
Santo Niño, Paghatudkay Santo Niño”
Praise dancing of Ati-Atihan tribes and visitors for hours together with beautifully adorned Señor Santo Niño de Kalibo ‘caros’ and devotees carrying Santo Niño image and bamboo torches.
Praise dancing of Ati-Atihan tribes and visitors for hours together with beautifully adorned Señor Santo Niño de Kalibo ‘caros’ and devotees carrying Santo Niño image and bamboo torches.
SADSAD FESTIVITY
Kalibo,
Aklan | January 3- January 16
Scene
of a yearly celebration in honor of Sto. Nino held every third week of
January, popularly known worldwide as Ati-Atihan. So called because Aklanons,
domestic and foreign tourists, wipe soot on their faces and done ethnic
paraphernalia and masquerade around town as Negritos and make merry and dance
in the streets to the beat of ambulant ethnic troubadours.
SAYAW RITUAL
Fiestas are usually annual rites of celebrations with small town
and rural flavors: streamers and indigenous arches, the loud and discordant
marching bands, the procession honoring the patron saint, the feasting and
bacchanalia. Unlike most other holidays that are family-oriented, the fiesta is
community-oriented; one for which all stops are pulled. Despite late year's
loan and expenses still unpaid and the coffers still empty, it is unthinkable
not to lay out the welcome-mat come fiesta day. A pig, cow, or carabao is sold,
to ensure that all the friends and neighbors may come and share in the
merriment and festivity that last until the last morsel is eaten or the last
jigger of liquor is quaffed.
Fiestas are usually smaller in scale, celebratiing a patron saint,
a hero or historical event. A festival is a more recent evolvement, denoting
bigness and urbanity, with more elements of organized commerce and a wider
celebratory scope. Both offer opportunites to experience something singularly
Filipino, events usually detailed with religiosity and folklore and abounding
in that legendary Filipino hospitality.
SEARCH OF
LAKAN AND MUTYA
The Ati-Atihan beauty pageant is one of the most anticipated
activities of the Kalibo Ati-Atihan festival, where physique gentlemen and
beautiful ladies showcase their fitness, charm, talent and beauty.
The annual search is a prestigious competition organized by your Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan Foundation, Inc. (Kasafi), a private-sector led foundation chaired by Albert Menez, tasked to manage the activities of the Kalibo Ati-Atihan festival in partnership with the local government of Kalibo.  SEARCH OF LAKAN AND MUTYA 2011
Caren Retamar Braun of New
Washington, Aklan was crowned as this year’s Mutya it Kalibo Ati-Atihan.
Braun, 17, also won Best in Swimwear and Best in Talent, and
grabbed the corporate awards Miss Maxi Peel and Miss Ever Bilena.
She also took home the “Ambassadress of Goodwill and Tourism”
title.
Mae Ann Mariano Manipud of Nabas, Aklan and Charmaine Ling
Palomata Chua of this capital town was declared first and second runners-up,
respectively.
The Gov. Augusto B. Legaspi Sports Complex here was jam-packed during
the event on Wednesday evening.
The pageant was organized by the Kalibo Sto. Niño Ati-Atihan
Foundation Inc. (Kasafi).
|
IvRose Vidal of Batan, Aklan was crowned Mutya it Kalibo Ati-Atihan 2012 in a star-studded finale night organized by pageant organizer Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan Foundation, Inc. (Kasafi) in Gov. Augusto B. Legaspi Sports and Cultural Center on January 6.y
Vidal, 22, a graduate of Garcia College of
Technology, bested 15 other aspirants for the title. She replaces last year’s
Mutya winner Caren Retamar Braun, also a Garcian student. The new Mutya it
Kalibo Ati-Atihan was voted Miss Photogenic and awarded Miss Juicy Cologne and
Miss Creamsilk.
Liezl
Dumaguin, 20, of Buruanga, Aklan, was picked first runner-up and 16-year old
Fil-Lebanese Daisy Batch of Balete, Aklan came in third. Batch won a number of
corporate awards for Miss Magnolia Light, Miss Silka, Miss E-Looks and Miss
Ponds, special award for Miss Personality and minor award for Best in Vogue
White.
SEARCH OF LAKAN AND MUTYA 2013
Rosalie ‘Lheng’ Castaneda Arcenio reigned over
11 other Mutya it Kalibo Ati-Atihan 2013 candidates to claim the crown of
the Ati-Atihan pageant of Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan Foundation, Inc. (Kasafi)
and the municipality of Kalibo on January 11.
The 17-year old business administration
student from Camanci Norte, Numancia, Aklan also won three minor awards
for Best in Swimsuit, Best in Illumina Attire and the Best in Long Gown.
Arcenio, born in Quezon City and raised in
Aklan, was also chosen as Miss Airphil Express and Miss Kapuso of GMA Network
for the corporate awards.
ATI-ATIHAN
FOLKSONGS
MAMUGON
Mamugonako, mamugon
Mamugonako, mamugon
Sa
tawongamanggaranon;
Alas dos akopakan-on, ay, ay,
Orasyonakopaulion.
Pag-abotko man sabaeay,
Mangayoako it humay;
TinuroakoniTatay, ay, ay,
Unasaeusongropaeay.
Alinonko man ropaeay,
Eawaskokaronginabudlay;
KonbuhikuntasiNanay, ay,.ay,
Makaonako, mapahuway.
MAGMAMANI
Kamingmagmamani, durosakaimoe;
Kamingmagmamani, ngamakaeueuoy;
Kamingmagmamani, ngaowa'tikasuboe;
Among ginapakitaromehorasnamonsaDaja.
Ay sakailokamingmagmamani,
Birang do among saya, kulintasngamani;
Singsing ag pulseras, aritosngamani,
Among ginapakitaromehorasnamonsaDaja.
SI FILEMON
Si Filemon, siFilemon
Nangisdasakadagatan
Nakadawi, nakadawi
It isdangatambasakan
Ginbaligya, ginbaligya
Sa tindahanngaguba
Ro anangkabakeanan (2x)
Kueang pa ipanuba.
Alas dos akopakan-on, ay, ay,
Orasyonakopaulion.
Pag-abotko man sabaeay,
Mangayoako it humay;
TinuroakoniTatay, ay, ay,
Unasaeusongropaeay.
Alinonko man ropaeay,
Eawaskokaronginabudlay;
KonbuhikuntasiNanay, ay,.ay,
Makaonako, mapahuway.
MAGMAMANI
Kamingmagmamani, durosakaimoe;
Kamingmagmamani, ngamakaeueuoy;
Kamingmagmamani, ngaowa'tikasuboe;
Among ginapakitaromehorasnamonsaDaja.
Ay sakailokamingmagmamani,
Birang do among saya, kulintasngamani;
Singsing ag pulseras, aritosngamani,
Among ginapakitaromehorasnamonsaDaja.
SI FILEMON
Si Filemon, siFilemon
Nangisdasakadagatan
Nakadawi, nakadawi
It isdangatambasakan
Ginbaligya, ginbaligya
Sa tindahanngaguba
Ro anangkabakeanan (2x)
Kueang pa ipanuba.
TUBA
Rong tuba kilaea eon it tanan
Sa probinsyatAkean
Ag eiemnongidngakinahang-ean
Kon may onangasumsuman
II
Masadyarongbarkada
Kon may basosalamisa
Ag kon tuba imawrongbida
Ro eiemnonngamapuea
III
May matam-is ag may makisum-kisom
May maapeod, may maaslom
Ag konro gusto hay medyomapait
Bahaeabawkanamit
MY RUBAIYAT
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Rong tuba kilaea eon it tanan
Sa probinsyatAkean
Ag eiemnongidngakinahang-ean
Kon may onangasumsuman
II
Masadyarongbarkada
Kon may basosalamisa
Ag kon tuba imawrongbida
Ro eiemnonngamapuea
III
May matam-is ag may makisum-kisom
May maapeod, may maaslom
Ag konro gusto hay medyomapait
Bahaeabawkanamit
MY RUBAIYAT
I’M GLAD IT WAS OVER
I can
still remember
The
times when were together
How
happy are we
When
you told me that we’ll be together
Other
things were set aside
As
long as you’re here by my side
I
couldn’t help it
The
feelings I can’t hide
Told
myself that you were right for me
Thinking
I’m so happy
Such
an alcoholic drug
That
I’ addicted in your company
What
happened as the days go by?
Your
memories haunt me and I cry
So
when I feel the ache
It’s
still there that I can’t deny
Your
vow has already broken
The
world stops all of a sudden
My
heart was stabbed by a knife
As I
stand up yet deeply fasten
Now I
don’t even need your love
To me
it seems so quite tough
You treat
me like a stranger
Indeed
it feels so rough
I’m
glad that it was over
It’s
the time that I’m gonna recover
You’re
such a damn trash
That
I should surrender
Someone
like you is not deserving
For a
bucket of tears flowing
Making
efforts and sacrifices
Thinking
out that we were nothing
Cause
I let my heart arrowed by cupid
Making
myself so stupid
For
such a worthless guy
Now I
realize of what you did
I
guess we were not meant to be
Even
partings never so easy
And
with all the aching inside
I’m
gonna let myself happy and ready
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
To my loving and supportive parents, who showed their unconditional
love, endless moral and financial support.
I am grateful to those of you my
friends and colleagues who had provided me some information, for your support
and appreciation.
And
most especially to our Almighty God for giving me the courage and strength in
my everyday life, for guiding me in whatever I do and everywhere I go.
