Ati-Atihan is one of the biggest "carnival" of Philippines. The Atis were the original inhabitants of Panay island. In the 13th century, tribes from Borneo had to run away from their own land and arrived in Panay. The Atis welcomed them so well that each year a festival was organised where Borneo settlers and the Atis danced and played music together. In honour of the Atis, Borneo tribes darkened their skin. The practice is still done today. After christianisation, a procession for Santo Nino was of course added. An impressive mass schedule is organised but the hit is defnitely the big parade!
Devotion to Santo Nino in Kalibo cathedral
What a beauty! One of the numerous Filipino tranvestite..
Darker skin like the Atis!
Here a video of the parades in Boracay and in Kalibo. There is the same festival Ati-Atihan in many places around the central Visayas, more or less in the same period, and we were lucky enough to get two for one.. we planned to be at the Kalibo one, but the Boracay was just a surprise on our path :) .. We have to say that the beach, the sea and the palm trees in the scenery add quiet something.. :)
One of the amazing things is that all the clothes they prepare during the year for the parade, are made mainly of recycled parts.. one of the most useful material is definitely the plastic bottles! cut and bent and painted in many shape and colors are the backbone of all the decorations you can see in the dresses..
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