BURMA   |   CAMBODIA   |   INDIA   |   NEPAL   |   THE PHILIPPINES   |   THAILAND   |   VIETNAM

  PREVIOUS                           NEXT
The Ati-Atihan Festival
The island of Panay is the western most of the six main islands that make up the Visayas. It is said to be the home of the original Bisaya - a term considered by some etymologists to be a literal rendering of the Visayan "sadya" or the Tagalog "saya", meaning "happiness".

The third week of January of each year brings the Ati-Atihan Festival to Kalibo, Makato, and Ibajay. The most reknowned of all Filipino fiestas, the celebration contains elements of the Christianized culture brought by the Spanish interwoven with the Ati culture that preceded it.

HALA BIRA! The Ati-Atihan is as colorful as it is joyous.

Barangays (barrio neighborhoods) compete for best costume as they snake through the streets in a haphazard procession.

Participants blacken their faces with soot to commemorate the 13th century land deal between the local Ati aborigines and twelve datus who had fled a tyrant in their native Borneo.

The Borneans threw a feast for their new neighbors, blackening their faces to appear more like their guests.

  PREVIOUS                           NEXT
RELATED SITES