A week before the Iloilo’s Dinagyang Festival, another famous festival called the “Ati-atihan Festival” in Kalibo, Aklan is also being held. The Ati-atihan 2010, on its 798th year, is thought to be the mother of all Philippine Festivals. The Ati-atihan 2010 Festival is also held in honor of the Santo Niño (Infant Jesus) and consists of tribal dance, music, accompanied by indigenous costumes and weapons, and parade along the street.

Here’s the schedule of the Ati-atihan 2010 Festival:

1st week to 3rd Sunday of January 2010

  • Spiritual Street Dancing (Principal Streets of Kalibo) – The true spirit of Ati-atihan 2010. An act of piety to ensure miracle for barren women to bear children, heal the body from maladies beyond medical remedy, prosperity in business or simply for fun and excitement.

January 8-16, 2010

  • 9-Day Novena (Kalibo Cathedral )

January 11-17, 2010

  • Hala Bira Ati-atihan Nights 2010 (Magsaysay Park) – Experience an unforgettable and endless dancing and partying with the rumbling and energetic music of live bands starting in the early evening till the wee hours of the morning.

January 11-17, 2010

  • Kaean-an sa Plaza Food Fest (9:00a.m.-12mn, Pastrana Park)

January 11-17, 2010

  • Museo it Akean – awe-inspiring paintings and sculptures created by members of the Aklan Visual Arts Association adding vibrance to the various museum pieces for your eyes to feast on.

January 13, 2010

  • Pagdayaw (2:00 p.m., Principal Streets of Kalibo) – All out Ati-Atihan2010 street dancing for students from public and private high schools and colleges in Aklan.
  • Sadsad Panaad (8:00 A.M., Principal Streets of Kalibo) – A parade of teachers and faculty from all public schools and colleges in the province of Aklan in their colorful costumes.

January 11-18, 2010

  • Ati-atihan 2010 Products Showcase 2010 (8:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m., Pastrana Park)

January 13, 2010

  • Higante Parade and Aklan Festival Showdown 2010 (2:00 p.m., Principal Streets of Kalibo) – A colorful parade of the festival winners and Sto. Niño devotees from the 17 towns of Aklan highlighted by the giant images of cultural and historical significance.

January 13-17, 2010

  • Pahilot or Paeapak (Kalibo Cathedral) – A unique age-old faith healing rite of the miraculous Sto. Niño of Kalibo that attracts devotees worldwide for curing diseases.

January 14, 2010

  • Barter of Panay Reenactment (Magsaysay Park)

January 15-17 2010

  • 3 Days Final Hurrah (Major Streets of Kalibo) – Experience 3 days and nights of jubilating revelry with soot-smeared Akeanons, local and foreign tourists dancing in wild abandon to the deafening sound of numerous drums, cymbals and lyres shouting, “Hala Bira Puera Pasma! Viva kay Señor Sto. Niño. Viva!’

January 16, 2010

  • Ati-atihan 2010 Contest (7:00 a.m., Major Streets of Kalibo) – Tribal and modern groups, Balik-Ati tribes and individually costumed participants dance on the streets to the beat of the drums and lyre in their vibrant and colorful costumes.

  • Blessing of Children (January 16, 2010, 11:00 a.m., Kalibo Cathedral)
  • Devotees Dawn Rosary and Procession (4:00 a.m., Kalibo Cathedral)
  • Fireworks Display (11:00 p.m., Magsaysay Park)

January 17, 2010

  • Transfer of Santo Niño Image (Cathedral to Pastrana Park)
  • Pasaeamat (7:00 a.m., Pastrana Park) – A concelebrated field mass offering devotees, guests and tourists flock insolidarity with Ati-atihan Tribes as they take part in the highest form of Catholic worship to God.
  • Torch Parade and Procession (3:00 p.m., Principal Streets of Kalibo) – Join the Ati-atihan groups parading for hours together with their beautifully adorned Sto. Niño caros and devotees carrying Sto. Niño image and bamboo torches that create floods of lights beginning at the town plaza and ending at the Kalibo Cathedral.
  • Pagpadungog (7:00 p.m., Magsaysay Park ) – The finale and last hurrah of the three- weeklong festival.