The Ati-Atihan Festival is an annual festival that takes place every third Sunday of January in the town of Kalibo, Aklan, on the island of Panay. The festival honors the Santo Niño, or the Holy Child Jesus, and commemorates the arrival of the Malay settlers and their peaceful coexistence with the native Ati people.

The name Ati-Atihan means “to imitate the Ati people”. The Ati people are the indigenous people of Panay, who have dark skin, curly hair, and simple clothing. They are also known for their animist beliefs and rituals, which involve honoring their ancestor spirits or anito.

The festival traces its roots back to the 13th century, when a group of 10 Malay chieftains, led by Datu Puti, fled from Borneo and landed on Panay. They negotiated with the Ati chieftain, Marikudo, and bought the lowlands for a golden salakot (hat), brass basins, and bales of cloth. They also gave a long necklace to Marikudo’s wife, Maniwantiwan. The Malays and the Atis celebrated their friendship with a feast and a dance.

The festival was later influenced by Christianity, when Spanish explorer Ferdinand Magellan arrived in Cebu in 1521 and gave an image of Santo Niño to Rajah Humabon and his wife Hara Amihan, who were baptized as Carlos and Juana. The image was said to be miraculous, as it survived a fire that burned down a wooden church where it was kept. The image was later brought to Panay by another Spanish explorer, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, in 1565. The natives embraced the image as their patron saint and incorporated it into their festival.

The festival today is a week-long celebration that culminates on the third Sunday of January. It features various events and activities that showcase the culture and creativity of the locals. The highlight of the festival is the grand street parade or Sadsad, where thousands of participants dress up in colorful costumes and paint their faces and bodies with soot or other colors to resemble the Ati people. They dance to the beat of drums and chant “Hala Bira! Pwera Pasma!” (Go on! No pain!), while carrying images or replicas of Santo Niño. The parade also includes floats, higantes (giant papier-mache figures), carabaos (water buffaloes), beauties, and farmers.

The festival is not only a feast for the eyes, but also for the taste buds. Visitors can enjoy various delicacies that are unique to Aklan, such as binakoe (chicken cooked in bamboo tubes), inubarang manok (chicken cooked with banana pith), linapay (banana cake), suman latik (sticky rice cake with coconut syrup), and ibos (rice cake wrapped in coconut leaves). They can also buy souvenirs made from wood, silver, beads, or kiping (leaf-shaped wafer).

The Ati-Atihan Festival is not only a celebration of faith and culture, but also a celebration of unity and diversity. It is a way of honoring the Santo Niño and the Ati people, who are considered to be the original inhabitants of Panay. It is also a way of expressing gratitude for nature’s bounty and sharing joy and merriment with others.