The Ati.docx

The Ati-Atihan Festival is a feast held annually in January in honor of the Santo Niño (Infant Jesus), concluding on the third Sunday, in the island and town of Kalibo, Aklan in the Philippines. The name "AtiAtihan" means "to be like Atis" or "make believe Ati's". Itas were the primary settlers in the islands according to history books. They too are the earliest settlers of Panay Island where the province of Aklan is situated.

The DinagyangFestival is celebrated every fourth weekend of January tohonor the Christianization of the natives and to respectthe Holy Child Jesus. On this day, streets of Iloilo Citywill once again come alive as the Ilonggos celebrate theannual festivity. It is a very colorful parade coupledwith a dramatization in honor of the patron Saint Sto.Niño as the object of performs offerings andprayers amidst the cracking of drums and shouts of "VivaSeñor Santo Niño." The thundering of "HalaBira" by the tribe members makes the celebration a livelyone. It is also a very popular tagline used by Ilonggosto express their warm participation during the"Dinagyang" celebration. A tribute in honor ofSeñor Sto. Niño whom Ilonggos believe wasvery miraculous in times of famine and drought.

The annual MassKara Festival held in Bacolod City every October is a celebration which has earned for Bacolod the title “City of Smiles”. It was born 25 years ago at a time of crisis, when sugar prices were crashing. It was also a time of tragedy; in April of that year, the vessel Don Juan carrying many Negrenses, including those belonging to prominent families in Bacolod, sank.

In this dark and tragic time, Bacolod artists as well as the local government and civic groups decided to hold a festival of smiles, because the city at that time was also known as the City of Smiles. They also thought a festival was a good opportunity to pull everybody out of the gloom and doom. In effect, the festival was a declaration of the people that no matter how tough and bad the times are, Bacolod is going to pull through, survive, and in the end, triumph. MassKara is a festival for local and international tourism. It is intended to provide a venue for the activities and cultural expression.