KALIBO, Aklan – Thousands of locals and tourists are expected in this capital town for the highlights of this year’s Kalibo Sto. Niño Ati-atihan Festival – the “Mother of All Philippine Festivals”.
The 18-day religious Feast of Señor Sto. Niño de Kalibo and Kalibo Sto. Niño Ati-atihan Festival will conclude this Jan. 20 to 21.
A dawn penitential procession along Kalibo Poblacion streets will be held at 4 a.m. this Saturday, to be followed by a devotees’ mass at 5 a.m. in St. John the Baptist Cathedral.
Kalibo Sadsad Ati-Atihan contest will start at 8 a.m. on Osmeña Avenue Capitol and wind its way through the streets of Kalibo until 5 p.m.
On Sunday, a pilgrims’ mass will be held at 7 a.m. and a grand procession will follow.
Religious and torch parade will take place at 3 p.m. while the awarding of contest winners will be at the Magsaysay Park at 10 p.m.
Kalibo Sadsad Ati-Atihan Tribal Big category
What contingents are likely to win the Tribal Big category? Can the Vikings win one more title or is the run finally over?
Perhaps, these are some of the burning questions in the anticipated festival event in Kalibo this Saturday.
Vikings is the defending tribal champion after winning the 2022 edition. The tribe from Dumga, Makato town was the de facto defending champion in 2020 before the coronavirus pandemic. It also captured the title in 2018.
Vikings is recently crowned as 2024 Tribal champion in Makato Ati-Atihan Festival.
The multi-titled Black Beauty Boys is also determined to reclaim the championship this year. The tribe from Linabuan Norte, Kalibo, Aklan managed to win 23 titles in six decades of Kalibo Ati-Atihan contest.
In January 1963, Black Beauty Boys was declared champion and 10 in 20 contests from 1964 to 1987, coupled with a record seven straight championship from 2011 to 2017.
It’s been five years since Black Beauty Boys last claimed a championship, last winning one in 2019.
Of course, Pangawasan from Cayangwan, Makato; Maharlika from Dumga, Makato; Tribu Linabuanon and Tribu Alibangbang from LInabuan Norte, Kalibo; Tribu Was-was and Pride of Libtong from Estancia, Aklan give these hyped-tribes a run for their money.
The grand winner in Tribal Big category will take home P1 million in cash – P650,000 cash from Kalibo mayor Juris Sucro and P350,000 cash from the local government of Kalibo through the Kalibo Ati-Atihan Festival Board.
The first runner-up will get P300,000. Of this figure, Mayor Sucro also shouldered P50,000, while the local government of Kalibo allocated P250,000.
The second runner-up will receive P170,000; 4th placer (P70,000), 5th (P60,000), 6th (P50,000), 7th (P40,000) and 8th placer to claim P30,000./PN
