ILOILO CITY – For a priest, the “sádsad” of the Ati-Atihan Festival – dubbed as the Mother of All Festivals – is the pilgrimage of the people of Aklan province.
A LOCAL wears a colorful costume mimicking the native Ati people at the 2025 Ati-Atihan Festival in Kalibo town, Aklan province in honor of the Santo Niño or Child Jesus. (Winston Lee)
“Because 2025 is the Year of the Jubilee, the sádsad is our own journey as Catholics,” said Rev. Fr. Vernon Zolina during the closing Mass for this year’s festival in Kalibo town on Sunday, Jan. 19.
The sádsad is characterized by merrymakers dancing with local groups wearing colorful costumes that mimic the native Ati people.
They dance on the major streets of Kalibo to the beat of the drum and lyre as they honor the Santo Niño or the Child Jesus. Some even freely carry alcoholic beverages.
“But sádsad is not only about merry-making. It is not just about drinking. It is not only about celebration or gathering,” Zolina said. “Sádsad is more than that. There’s a spirituality to sádsad – it leads us to heaven,” Zolina added.
He urged the faithful to deepen their relationship with the Santo Niño, the center of the festivities. “We are pilgrims. The Santo Niño is our hope,” he added.