By Shur C. Mangilaya
Once each year, specifically every last week of January, the feast of Ati-Ati is celebrated in the town of Ibajay in the province of Aklan. Each devotee make sure to participate in the celebration of honoring the Miraculous Sr. Sto. Niño. It is a tradition, a culture, well preserved from the time of our ancestors, which has been passed from generation after generation of Ibayhanon (Ibajaynon).
A day before the feast, on Saturday at 12 noon, is the handover of the image of Sto. Niño from the rectory to the church. The image is placed in a glass box so that all devotees are able to see the image of Sto. Niño. They then rejoice at the sight of Sto. Niño, with soot all over their body, as they dance to the lively beat of the drums and lyres and carry different banners and inasae (roasted meat or seafood on a bamboo stick) while chanting “Viva kay señor Sto. Niño!”
On the way out, the image is met by Sayaw, (Sayao in original) garbed in the traditional costumes of the Moros and of the Christians, replete with armors and swords for the Moros and bows for Christians. The objective of the sayaw is to pave the way for the Sto. Niño as he passes through the crowd. Years ago, after the image of Sto. Niño was placed in a throne inside the church, there was a play of sayaw outside the rectory, depicting the battle between the Moros and the Christians, and they would recite some luwa (a type of rhyme) during the battle.
Once the image was placed in its throne inside the church, devotees would then rush toward the image to touch or wipe their handkerchief or any cloth because they believed that Sto. Niño had healing capabilities.
In the afternoon, palapak would be held while a statuette of Sto. Niño was held against the head or the body of the devotee for healing.
On the day of the celebrated feast, on Sunday morning, masses are held in honor of the child Jesus. After the high mass, contestants of Ati-Ati Tribes and karo (floats) of different designs and concepts from barangays of Ibajay parade around the major streets of Poblacion, Ibajay. There are also groups from other barangay or various sectors who are not participants in the contest but still happily dance on the street.
Ati-Ati tribes dance on the street to the beat of the drums.
Floats follow the Ati-Ati tribes and groups. Decorated with various produce of Ibayhanon, like coconut, palay, corn, banana, and other fruits and vegetables, fish and seafood, and Ibayhanon art and crafts, some floats depict the life of Ati’s from ancient times. They are symbolic of the community’s gratitude for the bountiful harvest of the year.
The feast of Sto. Niño has been celebrated for many years. It is a devotion rooted from our ancestors. Ibajay Ati-Ati is believed to be the original Ati-Ati festival in the country. It has been kept unique by Ibayhanon, who have maintained the tradition of applying soot all over the body to imitate the original Tumandok (native) Ati and using indigenous materials for costumes and floats. Ibayhanon avoid using paints or artificial materials that would not give justice to the true essence of an Ati. Although some of the instruments used are quite modern, some groups still use old percussion instruments like the bamboo-made hunghong and kalungkong. However modern or old the instruments are, the spirit of the celebration is still the key to a lively performance.
This is why tourists, both international and local, flock to the town of Ibajay in the province of Aklan to witness the unique Ibajay Ati-Ati Festival.
“Viva kay señor Sto. Niño!”