Celebrities join Ati-Atihan Festival in Kalibo Aklan

The Ati-Atihan Festival of Kalibo, Aklan, Philippine

AKLAN, Philippines -- A livelier and more upbeat celebration of this year’s Ati-Atihan Festival – widely-known as the “Mother of All Festivals” – is set to happen this Monday, January 14, 2013.

The Ati-Atihan Festival is a feast held annually in January in honor of the Senior Santo Niño (Infant Jesus), concluding on the third Sunday, in the island and town of Kalibo, Aklan in the Philippines.

Organizers said hottest stars from Manila will also come to participate in the spectacular fete.

A Kapuso Night (a night with GMA artists) filled with dancing, music and other merry-making activities takes place at the Pastrana Park at 6:00 PM. Set to lead the celebration are lovely Kapuso leading ladies Kris Bernal and Louise delos Reyes, together with Party Pilipinas mainstay Mark Bautista.

Last January 11, two homegrown hearththrobs, Aljur Abrenica and Mark Herras, graced the “Mutya Ag Lakan It Kalibo 2013 Grand Pageant Finale and Coronation Night” which happened at the Gov. Augusto B. Legaspi Sports and Cultural Center.

Aljur serenaded the female contestants while Mark acted as one of the event’s judges. In this year’s pageant, a total of 24 finalists vied for the crown and titles of Mutya and Lakan of Kalibo Ati-Atihan.

Local celebrities from GMA network joins the event

GMA Iloilo Station Manager, Mr. Jonathan Cabillon, says “GMA Network is very much excited to take part in one of the most colorful and rhythmic Philippine Festivals, the Ati-Atihan. Our artists have prepared long and hard for their participation, and we look forward to the Kapusong Aklanons’ delight.”

   

The full details of the Network’s participation in the 2013 Ati-Atihan Festival will be featured in the weekly travelogue “Let's Fiesta” airing on January 27 via the Network’s regional stations in Bicol, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Dagupan, Ilocos, GenSan, Bacolod, and CDO.

Meanwhile, the name "Ati-Atihan" means "to be like Aetas" or "make believe Ati's." Aetas were the primary settlers in the islands according to history books. They too are the earliest settlers of Panay Island where the province of Aklan is situated.

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, both adaptations of the Kalibo Ati-Atihan Festival.

The phrase "Hala Bira! Pwera Pasma!" is originally associated with the Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan Festival as the revelers and devotees keep on going with the festivities all over the town from morning to the wee hours of the next morning, rain or shine, for one week or even more. They believe that the miraculous Child Jesus will protect them from harm and illness.

The highlight of the festival occurs on the last day, the third Sunday of January, when groups representing different tribes compete for tourists' attention and prizes. The festival ends with a procession of thousands of people carrying torches and different kinds of images of the Santo Niño.

The Ati-Atihan 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. (Ricky Bautista)

Feast of the Black Nazarene: Devotees flood Manila streets

Devotees of the Black Nazarene flooded the streets of Manila

QUIAPO, Manila -- The main streets of Manila turn into ocean of people as the entire Filipino nation celebrates today, January 9, 2013, the Feast of the Black Nazarene.

Every year on this date, the city of Manila – the capital of the Philippines and being worldwide known being a catholic country turns into ocean of Filipino devotees joining the procession along the streets of Manila, one of the popular piety or tradition in the country.

As this developed, the government prime security groups such as the police and its multipliers, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has deployed thousands of its men to ensure the safety of the devotees.

As usual, millions of Filipino devotees attended the mass ceremony at Quirino Grandstand and at around 7 o’clock in the morning of January 9, the procession moves on to the main streets of Manila. Many believe that by joining this religious activity their ‘wish’ will be granted by the miraculous Black Nazarene.

Devotees normally wear maroon shirts and walk barefoot with the image as an act of penance and a sign of humility while yelling “Viva Senor”. Devotees hold the rope pulling the image’s carriage.

During the procession, people are reaching for the rope and the image of the Black Nazarene. Other people also throw towels in the image. It is said that people who have touched the image, or those towels have been healed, cured from the disease.

This occasion is also a great opportunity for the small time entrepreneurs who sell various religious souvenirs such as printed shirts, icons, towels and other items. Lawless elements such as pick-pocketers and salisi group also take opportunity in this event.

The Black Nazarene icon

Filipinos believed the icon is miraculous

The Black Nazarene is a life-size statue of Jesus Christ carrying a cross. It is said that the icon was brought by an Agustinian Recollect priest of Acapulco Mexico to the Church of San Juan Bautista in Bagumbayan, Philippines on May 31, 1606.

It is said that the statue of the Black Nazarene has a fair complexion and turned black only after a fire in the galleon vessel on its arrival in the Philippines. After the said incident, historians said, many Filipinos believed it to be miraculous. In 1608, the icon was moved to a bigger Recollect church of San Nicolas de Tolentino in Intramuros. On January 9, 1787 it was transferred to Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila where the image is still currently kept.

Historian Xiao Chua said in his Unang Hirit appearance today the celebration reunites the people carrying different purpose and hopes. A lot of the devotees identify themselves with the passion of Jesus Christ.
Devotees relate life struggles underwent by Jesus, as represented by the image. A lot find the image miraculous, and that is the reason why a lot of sick people or those who are praying for a sick family member participate in this event asking for healing and miracle.

The 2013 Feast of the Black Nazarene is one of the biggest and the longest procession in the Philippine history. Last year, the parade took 22 hours to complete the route as planned from and back to the Quiapo church. It recorded close to 10 million devotees who joined the celebration. (Ricky Bautista)