ATI- ATIHAN

Prepared by:

Yerrel Jash G. Lazara

 ATI- ATIHAN FESTIVAL
The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the
Origins of the festival. A group of 10 Malay chieftains
ICHCAP of UNESCO published Pinagmulan: Enumeration from the
called Datus, fleeing from the island of Borneo settled
Philippine Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The first edition of
in the Philippines, and were granted settlement by the
the UNESCO-backed book included the Ati-atihan Festival, signifying
Ati people, the tribes of Panay Island. Datu Puti made
its great importance to Philippine intangible cultural heritage. The local
a trade with the natives and bought the plains for a
government of Aklan, in cooperation with the NCCA, is given the right
golden salakot, brass basins and bales of cloth. They
to nominate the Ati-atihan Festival in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural
gave a very long necklace to the wife of the Ati
Heritage Lists.
chieftain.

Believed to be around 800

1200 A.D years old 2012

It was celebrated by the Aetas of Panay and the newly

settled Malays from Borneo, long before there was an
archipelagic Philippines to speak of. Today it is
recognized as the“Mother of all Philippine festivals”
and is a week-long celebration that people from all
over visit the city to get a taste of.
 The Festival’s Origins
The festival’s name means “to be like the Ati’s” (also called Aetas) and today, two varying tales of the Ati-Atihan’s roots are
known. While both involve the Aetas (indigenous people) of Panay accommodating Malays from Borneo seeking a new
island in which to live, they differ in what takes place soon after. In one version, the first Ati-Atihan festival is said to have
taken place when the new Malay settlers, in celebration of their peaceful agreement with the island’s natives, colored their
faces with soot to resemble and honor the darker-skinned Aetas. In the other, it supposedly took place when the Aetas
suffered a bad harvest, descended to the lowlands and sought help from their Malay neighbors, who then gave them a share
of their resources. So as thanks, they sang and danced for the generous Malays.
When the Spaniards colonized the Philppines, the festival was given Catholic significance and it was turned into a feast to
honor the Santo Niño (a statue of the Child Jesus). This is why today, while people still darken their skin and don Aeta-
inspired costumes, holy mass is also celebrated as part of the festival.
 HALA BIRA!
They look like warriors of centuries ago in a festive mood, in celebration of an occasion. They fill the
streets of Kalibo, Aklan, they sound up the drums and it is only once a year. Yes, it is the Ati-atihan
festival.
Currently celebrated in honor of the Sto. Nino, the Ati-atihan festival is very lively, colorful and it is a
week long fiesta! The blackened dancers attract tourists from all over the world and when the festivities
are done, these tourists hit the beach on the white sands of a nearby island called Boracay for more
parties.
The festival features tribal dancing on the rhythms of the drums, dancing with weapons, and parading
along the streets, which happens during the last three days of a week-long celebration. The performers
and dancers wear indigenous costumes, masks, headdresses and body paints, making them very colourful
and really alive. You can distinguish the dynamic gay groups by their creative and glittery costume
themes.

A wonderful aspect of this festival is that it includes everyone and not just a particular group of people. It
allows people of all ages to participate and dance in the streets. The sounds of the drums and the rhythmic
tinkling of metal and stones on bottles echo in the air. Everyone is happily shouting HALA BIRA! and
dancing – their differences totally forgotten – and the streets are filled with smiling faces.
Local and foreign tourists gather in this fest every year. It is even featured in numerous TV programs and
news. The most awaited event is the dance competition where dance troupes are dressed in colourful and
outstanding costumes. They paint their bodies with black ash that makes them look like the native Atis.
They are grouped in 40-50 talented children and teenagers who dance with all their might for local
prestige and of course, the cash prizes.
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ATI- ATIHAN COSTUME & PROPS

In the ati-atihan festival, they use a lot of props. They use
charcoal or paint on their faces and body. The reason they
paint theirselves black is because ati atihan means "to look
like an Ati". Ati's are native Filipinos that are usually dark
toned and short people. That is the main reason why they
color themselves black. Another prop is the clothes they
wear. If you noticed ati atihan dancers have clothing that
only covers their private parts, even if it is a boy or girl.
Another is a mask, but this is only optional. It depends if
people who will dance or preform want the mask. Lastly,
they use a wooden stick. The wooden stick is for the dance
prod that they present every last day of the festival.
ATI-ATIHAN FESTIVAL
THANKYOUU!!