By BOY RYAN B. ZABAL
KALIBO, Aklan — Organizers of the Ati-Atihan Festival here were yet to finalize the dates for the festivity next year.
Pope Francis’ scheduled visit to the Philippines on January 15 to 19 next year will overlap with Ati-Atihan, celebrated from January 9 to 18 of every year.
If the festival will be held in later dates, it may also overlap with the Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo and other fiestas in Iloilo.
Observers see that this may force tourists, especially devotees, to choose which festivals to attend and which ones to forego.
Preparations for the pope’s visit are under way.
Kalibo Sto. Niño Ati-Atihan Foundation, Inc. (Kasafi), Diocese of Kalibo and the municipal government here have yet to decide whether or not to reschedule Ati-Atihan.
“The final festival dates will be known this month,” assured Albert Menez, Kasafi chairperson.
Kasafi volunteers, he said, are likely to “support the best interest of the devotees, visitors and residents.”
Some Aklanon balikbayans have already booked roundtrip tickets, according to Vice Mayor Madeline Regalado.
“There is an overwhelming view that devotees and visitors would prefer the traditional dates of the Ati-Atihan Festival, since the celebration is special to them,” said Municipal Councilor Augusto Tolentino.
Ati-Atihan events will go ahead as planned, Menez said.
“(Kasafi) volunteers remain committed to the festival,” he said. “It has always been a big task for them to put everything together within five months.”
In fact, if the festival is celebrated during the traditional dates, the streets here will be adorned with the papal colors yellow and white, he said.
“Pope Francis’ visit in the Philippines is a blessing and a great joy for our country,” he said.
According to Rev. Fr. Cesar Echegaray, Diocese of Kalibo chancellor, “Pope Francis wants to visit areas affected by super typhoon ‘Yolanda,’” which includes Kalibo.
Bishop Jose Corazon Tala-oc, meanwhile, is getting the consensus of the clergy and the festival organizers on the matter.
Pope Francis’ scheduled Philippine visit will be his first since becoming pope March last year.
Francis will also be the third pontiff to visit the Philippines after Pope Paul VI in 1970 and Pope John Paul II in 1981 and in 1995 during the World Youth Day in Manila. (Aklan Forum Journal/PN)
