Ati-atihan Festival in Kalibo,Aklan

The province of Aklan is one of the best tourist destination in the world. In this place you can find the beautiful beach of Boracay. But not only that,they also celebrate the Ati-atihan Festival which is observed second week of January and ends on the 3rd Sunday of January. The Ati-atihan festival is a feast in honor of Santo Niño. It is considered as the "Mother of all Philippines Festivals" . The people in Kalibo would paint themselves with black color and dance in the street pretend like Ati or Aeta.


Schedule of Activites for the Ati-atihan festival.

SPIRITUAL STREET DANCING

1st week to 3rd Sunday of January 2009, Principal Streets of Kalibo

The true spirit of Ati-atihan. 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.

9-DAY NOVENA

January 10-18, 2009, Kalibo Cathedral

A traditional religious activity in reverence to the Sto. Niño where believers pledge vows in exchange of blessings and supplications and is gaining worldwide recognition and acceptance for its miracle of healing.

HALA BIRA ATI-ATIHAN NIGHTS

January 12-18, 2009, 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. Join the crowd in the almost never-ending excitement- of “snake-dancing” and enjoy the appetizing food and drinks served at kiosks in and around the park.

KAEAN-AN SA PLAZA (Food Fest)

January 12-18, 2009, 9:00a.m.-12mn, Pastrana Park

The perfect place to re-energize yourselves. The Food Festival at the town plaza presents fast foods and different culinary specialties from Aklanon, Filipino to international culinary cuisines.

VISUAL ART EXHIBIT

January 12-18, 2009, 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.

PAGDAYAW

January 13, 2009, 2:00 p.m., Principal Streets of Kalibo

All out Ati-Atihan street dancing for students from public and private high schools and colleges in Aklan.

SADSAD PANAAD

January 14, 2009, 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.

ATI-ATIHAN PRODUCTS SHOWCASE

January 12-19, 2009, 8:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m., Pastrana Park

Showcases beautiful ornamental plants and quality Aklanon products made from piña,abaca,raffia,nito and clay materials handcrafted by local artisans.

HIGANTE PARADE & AKLAN FESTIVAL SHOWDOWN

January 14, 2009, 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.

PAHILOT OR PAEAPAK

January 14-18, 2009, Kalibo Cathedral

A unique age-old faith healing rite of the miraculous Sto. Niño of Kalibo that attracts devotees worldwide for curing diseases.

BARTER OF PANAY REENACTMENT

January 15, 2009, Magsaysay Park

The legendary reenactment of the arrival of ten (10) Datus and the Purchase of Panay from the Aetas by the Malays. Witness the origin of the Mother of all festivals unfold before your eyes and its evolution into the present day praisefest.

3 DAYS FINAL HURRAH

January 16-18 2009, 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!’

ATI-ATIHAN CONTEST

January 17, 2009, 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 17, 2009, 11:00 a.m., Kalibo Cathedral

Children of different ages gather for the traditional blessing to honor the Holy Child officiated by the Bishop of Kalibo.

DEVOTEES DAWN ROSARY & PROCESSION

January 17, 2009, 4:00 a.m., Kalibo Cathedral

Pray the dawn rosary with devotees and pilgrims. A moment of deep silence before the festival music rises into a crescendo.

FIREWORKS DISPLAY

January 17, 2009, 11:00 p.m., Magsaysay Park

A spectacular display of colorful fireworks in the eve of the Ati-atihan’s big day. See the most dazzling show of thousands of vibrant lights as they pierce the night sky.

TRANSFER OF STO. NIÑO IMAGE

January 18, 2009, 6:30 a.m., Kalibo Cathedral to Pastrana Park

The traditional transfer of the venerated miraculous image of Sto. Niño of Kalibo from the Kalibo Cathedral to Pastrana Park for the field mass celebration. Witness the applause of drums and lyre of Ati Tribes in reverence to the Sto. Niño.

PASAEAMAT

January 18, 2009, 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 & PROCESSION

January 18, 2009, 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

January 18, 2009, 7:00 p.m., Magsaysay Park

The finale and last hurrah of the three- weeklong festival. After a day of street dancing and gastronomic feast in praise of the Sto. Niño, winners of the Ati-atihan Contest give their last energy as they receive their awards.


visit http://www.kalibo.gov.ph for more information.

Cebu Hotels

I mentioned yesterday in my page about the Sinulog Festival. Do you know that it is one of the grandest, most distinguished and most colorful festivals in the Philippines. To witness and to know more about this event, come and visit us here in the Philippines. Let me give you the list of license hotels, tourist inns, pension houses and apartelles where you can stay and feel like home.

Cebu Business Hotel
3rd & 4th Level F & C Square, Colon Cor. Junquera St., Cebu City
Phone: 255-6010 to 13

Cebu Castle Peak hotel
F. Cabahug Cor. Pres. Quezon Sts., Mabolo, Cebu City
Phone: 233-1811 232-6838

Cebu City Marriott Hotel
Cardinal Rosales Ave., Cebu Business Park Cebu City
Phone: 232-6100

Cebu Grand Hotel
Capitol Commercial Complex, N. Escario St., Cebu City
Phone: 254-6331

Cebu Holiday Plaza Hotel
F. Ramos St., Cogon Central, Cebu City
Phone: 254-9880

Cebu Midtown Hotel
Osmeña Blvd., Cor. General Maxilom Ave., & Fuente Osmeña, Cebu City
Phone: 253-9711

Cebu Northwinds Hotel
Salinas Drive, Lahug, Cebu City
Phone: 233-0311 to 13

Cebu Regal Pension House
9-A Y & F Bldg., Junquera Ext., Cebu City
Phone: 255-6758

East Capitol Pensionne
92-C East Capitol Site, Cebu City
Phone: 416-5668 416-5588

Eddie's Hotel
F. Manalo St., Cebu City
Phone: 254-8570 to 76

Fuente Pension House
0175 Don Julio Llorente St., Capitol Site, Cebu City
Phone: 253-4133 253-6789

Golden Valley Hotel, Inc.
155-A Pelaez St., Cebu City
Phone: 253-8660

Hotel De Mercedes
7 Pelaez St., Kalubihan, Cebu City
Phone: 253-1105

Hotel Sogo
0197 Sanciangko St., Cebu City
Phone: 254-1042 416-8050

Montebello Villa Hotel
Banilad, Cebu City
Phone: 231-3681

Paragon Suites
91 Juana Osmeña St., Cebu City
Phone: 412-6844

Richmond Plaza Centre, Inc.
F. Sotto Drive, Gorordo Ave., Cebu City
Phone: 232-0361 412-6818

Sarrosa International & Residencial Suites
F. Cabahug St., Kasambagan, Cebu City
Phone: 232-5811

The Apartelle
Cebu Capitol Commercial Complex, N. Escario St., Cebu City
Phone: 255-6385 255-6386

The Golden Peak Hotel & Suites
Gorordo Ave., Cor. Escario St., Cebu City
Phone: 233-8111 to 15

Vacation Hotels Corp - Cebu
No. 35 Juana Osmeña Cor. Jose Avila Sts., Cebu City
Phone: 253-2766 253-7506

Waterfront Cebu City Hotel
7 Salinas Drive, Lahug, Cebu City
Phone: 232-6888

Westpoint Inn
297 Don Gil Garcia St., Cebu City
Phone: 254-3433

West Gorordo Hotel, Inc.
110 Gorordo Ave., Cebu City
Phone: 231-4347 to 49

Sinulog Festival in Cebu City,Philippines

Every third Saturday of January, the Cebuano (people in Cebu) honors the Santo Niño (Holy Child Jesus) with a festival or the Sinulog festival. It is a dance ritual which remembers the Cebuano's pagan past and their recognition to Christianity.The word "Sinulog " comes from Cebuano adverb sulog which means "like water current movement". It also describes the dance movement of the Sinulog dance which is the forward-backward movement.

In the celebration of the Sinulog festival, several programs and activities are lined up by the Cebu City government and the Sinulog Foundation.

Here is the schedule of activities for the upcoming Sinulog festival:


December 1 - January 31, 2009 Sinulog 2009 Bazaar

January 9, 2009 Sinulog Exhibits

January 10-18, 2009 Sinulog Nighthly Activities & Cultural Shows

January 10-18, 2009 Religious and Cultural Activities

January 10, 2009 Sinulog Contest Categories

January 10-11, 2009 Sinulog sa Kabataan

January 18, 2009 Best of Cebu

January 14, 2009 Ms. Cebu 2009

January 16-18, 2009 Devotee City

January 16, 2009 Sinulog 2008 Festival Queen

January 17, 2009 Solemn Procession

January 17, 2009 Fluvial Parade

January 18, 2009 The Grand Parade

January 18, 2009 Fireworks Display

Dinagyang Festival

Are you familiar with the Dinagyang Festival? It is one of the famous festival here in Iloilo, Philippines. Dinagyang is a thanksgiving for and a celebration in honor of Sr. Santo Nino. The cultural festival is held every last weekend of January. The Dinagyang is divided into three major events which is the Kasadyahan Street Dancing, Ati-Ati Street Dancing and Miss Dinagyang competition. The Kasadyahan is a cultural parade held every last Saturday of January. Different tribes interpret the old Iloilo culture and their devotion to the patron saint. They were dancing and singing with their colorful costumes.The Ati-Ati Street Dancing is the highlight of the Dinagyang festival held on Sunday. It is the competition of 20 tribes or groups where they dance to the drumbeats. The warriors of each tribe paint their bodies with black to imitate the color of the Aetas which is the first settlers of the Panay Island.

Here are the list of participants for the Dinagyang Festival (partial list):

Iloilo Dinagyang Festival Ati Competition

1. Tribu Paghidaet
2. Tribu Ilonganon
3. Ang Taga Jaro
4. Tribu Silak
5. Tribu Atub-Atub
6. Tribu Panagat ( formerly Tribu Parianon)
7. Tribu Pag-asa
8. Tribu Pana-ad
9. Tribu Molave
10. Tribu Aninipay
11. Tribu Binhi
12. Tribu Milagrosa (formerly Tribu Baryohanon)
13. Tribu Bantu
14. Tribu Hamili
15. Tribu Angola
16. Tribu Himala
17. Tribu Himal- us
18. Tribu Bola- Bola

Iloilo Dinagyang Festival Kasadyahan Competition

* Tribu Tinuom - Cabatuan
* Tribu Bayluhay - San Joaquin
* Tribu Saad - Leganes
* Tribu Maragtas - WVSU
* Tribu Mandurriaonon - Mandurriao
* Tribu Banate




For the schedule of activities:

November 6, 2009 (12nn) - Local Launch of Dinagyang Festival

December 7, 2009 (3pm) - National Launch of Dinagyang Festival

December 13, 2009 (2pm) - Pamukaw 2009

December 14, 2009 (2pm) - Presentation of Miss Dinagyang 2009 candidates

January 16, 2009 (3pm) - Opening Salvo

January 21, 2009 (7pm) - Coronation Night of Miss Dinagyang 2009

January 22 to 23, 2009 - First Iloilo International Dragon Boat Race Competition

January 23, 2009 (8am) - Dinagyang Drum and Bugle Competition

January 23, 2009 (3pm) - Fluvial Procession

January 24, 2009 (8am) - Kasadyahan Competition

January 24, 2009 (7pm) - International Night

January 25, 2009 (8am) - Dinagyang Ati Competition

January 25, 2009 (7pm) - Iloilo Dinagyang 2009 Awarding Ceremonies


Come and visit us here in Iloilo.

Post it...share it

I am not a writer. Blogging is not really my favorite habit. But do you know that you can earn extra income from blogging. One of my friend said that there so many ways to earn money from your blog. This idea encourage me to create a blog. I am now facing a financial crisis (actually we are)so I think blogging can help a little bit.

As we face our life everyday, there are many experiences that we may encounter. The were so many things that we are likely to discover. The are some things that we will learn later on.And who knows, by sharing my own personal experiences or anything,you will learn something from it.I hope you will.

So let me say "Happy new year" to all of you and hope you will say "Welcome to blogging world."

They say blogging is fun and I hope to experience that soon and will become my favorite habit.