2012 Kalibo Ati-Atihan Festival

Posted by Maribojoc Bohol on January 15th, 2012 in Local News

Devotees and tourists alike flocked to Aklan’s capital town of Kalibo for this year’s celebration of 2012 Kalibo Ati-Atihan Festival and Feast of Senor Santo Nino de Kalibo.

And Kalibo’s St. John the Baptist Cathedral fronting the town plaza was jampacked with devotees, guests and participating tribes during an early morning pilgrims mass, spearheaded and officiated by Kalibo Bishop Jose Corazon Talaoc and priests from the province of Aklan.

Following the mass was the traditional merrymaking and street dancing in the major thoroughfares in town after Kalibo Mayor William Lachica jubilantly shouted “Viva kay Senor Sto. Nino and the simultaneous raising of Sto. Nino’s holy image to the deafening sounds of drumbeats that echoed at the town plaza.

On the other hand, a yearly spiritual religious procession was conducted at 3 p.m. with the participation of contesting tribes and floats carrying the image of Holy Child Jesus. The activity also saw street dancing in Kalibo’s major streets for the six-hour long procession with participants carrying torches for use as night fall comes.

Devotees have been very grateful for the blessings they have received from their Patron notably for sparing the province from the series of tragic incidents that happened in the country early last year.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, Jan. 14, 33 Ati tribes rolled off major streets in town for the tribe competition, highlight of this year’s Kalibo Ati-Atihan Festival, particularly in the tribal big category that include defending champion Black Beauty Boys, Kabog, Tribu Responde, Tribu Tiis-Tiis and Tribu Bukid Tigayon, among others.

Apart from the Tribal Big category, other contesting tribes vied under the Tribal Small category, Modern and Individual category and Balik Ati category.

It was learned that four out-of-town tribes have also signified their participation in this year’s festival.

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