Performing Arts: Aklan Province Islands Philippines
page 1... Performing Arts: Aklan Province
Islands Philippines
The origins of Ati-atihan are buried in myth and legend; hence,
there are several versions. According to the Maragtas, there were
occasional skirmishes that occurred between the Malays and the Aeta
or Ati even after the barter of Panay. A peace pact ended the strife,
and the two formerly warring groups celebrated. To emphasize their
oneness in spirit, the Malays covered themselves with soot so as
to look like the Ati. And so began the first Ati-ati which translates
into the Tagalog word Ati-atihan, now the more popular term for
it.
The famous ati-atihan festival in Kalibo is celebrated on the third
Sunday of every January. However, having become a hodge-podge of
Catholic ritual, social activity, indigenous drama, and a tourist
attraction, the celebration now stretches over several days. Days
before the festival itself, the people attend novena masses for
the Holy Child or Santo Niño and benefit dances sponsored
by civic organizations. The formal opening mass emphasizes the festival’s
religious intent. The start of the revelry is signaled by rhythmic,
insistent, intoxicating drumbeats, as the streets explode with the
tumult of dancing people. The second day begins at dawn with a rosary
procession, which ends with a community mass. The merrymaking is
then resumed. The highlight of the festival occurs on the last day,
when groups representing different tribes compete. Costumes, including
the headdress, are made of abaca fibers, shells, feathers, bamboo,
plant leaves, cogon, and sugar cane flowers. The day ends with a
procession of parishioners carrying bamboo torches and different
images of the Santo Niño. The contest winners are announced
at a masquerade ball that officially ends the festival.
Another version, dating back to the Spanish Period, says that the
festival began with the Aeta’s practice every Christmas of
descending from their forest habitat and going from house to house
in Ibajay town, in northwestern Aklan, about 35 km from Kalibo.
The men played their gongs or bamboo flutes while the women danced.
They were given food and drink, old clothes, beads, knives and odds
and ends. When the Aeta stopped coming, the Ibajay townsfolk, who
realized they had begun to look forward to its yearly practice,
blackened themselves with soot, put on colorful headdresses and
loincloths just as the Aeta had done, and danced from house to house
requesting alms or gifts. Through the years it became a rowdy and
spectacular show performed on a grand scale by everyone in the town
wearing masks and costumes, beating cans, bamboo tubes and boards,
or blowing on whistles and trumpets, and parading through the main
streets until they wore themselves out. Every household was open
to guests who were offered sumptuous food. The celebration spread
to other towns and became a regional festival.
The Spaniards virtually ignored it but incorporated Catholic elements
into the feast. This was a practice often resorted to by the Spanish
friars whenever an indigenous practice persisted despite Catholic
influence. In the 18th century, a priest moved the date of the festival
to coincide with the feast day of the Santo Niño. Pilgrims
then traveled to the town to fulfill a religious vow, and the street
dancing imitated the playful pranks of the Santo Niño.
page 3 ... Performing Arts: Aklan Province
Islands Philippines
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Philippines Cuisine History and Influences
The Chinese food introduced during this period were food of the workers and traders, which became a staple of the noodle shops (panciterias), and can be seen in dishes like arroz caldo (congee), sinangag (fried rice), chopsuey.
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Philippines Cuisine History and Influences Travel and sleep in the 5 biggest hotels in the world
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