ILOILO CITY – All is set for the return of the Ati-Atihan Festival in Kalibo, Aklan in January, two years after the Covid-19 pandemic cancelled the “Mother of All Philippine Festivals.”

The opening salvo unraveled in Kalibo over the weekend.
The Kalibo Ati-Atihan Festival Board and Kalibo Mayor Juris Bautista Sucro led various events to kick off the festivities that honor the Santo Niño (Child Jesus) every Jan. 3.
Previous editions of the festival have drawn foreign and local tourists for the ultimate merrymaking in a weekend of activities.
Locals received a preview of what to expect in January in the opening salvo such as the ‘’sadsad sa kalye’’ or the street dancing with distinctive Ati-Atihan sounds from a drum and lyre.
A dance contest, concerts, a food festival, and a Mass at the church were held during the opening salvo.
Sucro delivered his 100-day report to the people of Kalibo during the event.