Ati-Atihan hypnotizes thousands

KALIBO, Aklan - "Ati-Atihan", Asia's biggest festival once more proved its luring power and

an incomparable magic, during the week-long festivities here last Jan. 11-17.

The revelry-clad event drew more than 200,000 visitors, local and foreign, into day- and-night

street dancing in Kalibo's main roads and streets whose dynamo of music ranged from original,

typical and native Aklanon songs, cadence and musical instruments including the marimbas of

the circa '50, postwar bugles and rehabilitated drums augmented by only a few of modern

musical instruments certainly were ear and eye-catchers with some "Atis" (aborigines or Malay

natives) from Aklan's far-flung mountains joining the jubilation.

This year's "Ati-Atihan" festival culminated with the feast of "Sto Ni?o" right on the third Sunday

of January with different modes of presentations. The culminating day appeared to be more of

religious activities - centered on the "Sto. Ni?o" (Holy Child) where about 1,000 icons of the Holy

Child were carried by the faithful during the late afternoon procession around the entire capital.

The participants who were carrying the icons were people who were asking special favors from

the Holy Creator - that included petitions to bear children for childless couples, cure for sickness,

solution to some family problems, and financial.

The Department of Tourism, (DOT) Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) and the Aklan Tourism

Task Force and non-governmental organizations including the United Aklanon Association of

Metro Manila (UNAAMM) and the Protect Aklan Movement (PAM) were seen in unison to make

the twin celebrations more successful.

Provincial tourism Task Force Chief, Aklan Gov. Florencio "Joeben" Miraflores has expressed his

personal and heartfelt thanks to Pres. Joseph "Erap" Ejercito Estrada, Tourism Sec. Gemma

Cruz-Araneta, PTA general manager Angelito Banayo for their support to "AtiAtihan" and Sto.

Ni?o celebrations, where Aklanon overseas and countrymen from Visayas, Mindanao and Luzon

took timeout in attending and gracing the celebrations.

A good number of members from the Senate and House of Representatives, AFP and PNP

police officers led by Police Deputy Director General Roberto Lastimoso, PNP Chief for

personnel Police Director Edgar Galvante and Region 6 PNP director, Chief Supt. Jose Ayap

were also among the visitors who also attended a meeting of Regional Development Council

chaired by Gov. Miraflores.