BORACAY CELEBRATES THE ATI-ATIHAN FESTIVAL & HERE’S WHAT TO EXPECT
4 min read
One of the best times to visit Boracay, the country’s number one island destination, is during the Ati-Atihan Festival when the weather is warm and the atmosphere is festive. Get a piece of paradise while witnessing the Aklanons celebrate this annual religious and cultural event in honor of the Santo Niño (Infant Jesus) this coming January 11 to 13, 2019. Click here for the updated list of accredited hotels by the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force.
Here is what to expect from Mr. Gian Kyle Talapian, Administrative Assistant and Youth Committee Chairman of the Malay-Aklan Local Government Unit – Boracay:
- January 11, 2019, Friday
- 6:30 PM- Barangay and Parishioner’s Night at the Balabag Plaza
- January 12, 2019, Saturday
- 11:00 AM- Hornada at the Holy Rosary Parish Church
- 6:00 PM- Kabataan’s Night at the Balabag Plaza
- January 14, 2019, Sunday
- 4:00 AM- Motorcade and Fluvial Parade from Cagban Port to Boracay’s Rock
- 6:30 AM- First Morning Regular Mass at the Holy Rosary Parish Church
- 7:30 AM- High Mass at the Balabag Plaza
- 8:30 AM- Boracay Santo Niño Ati-Atihan “Sadsad” from Balabag Plaza to the beach area near Willy’s Beach Hotel then to the Tourist Center and back passing by the “Vegetation Area”
- 4:00 PM- First Afternoon Regular Mass at the Holy Rosary Parish Church
- 5:30 PM- Procession of the Santo Niño Image from the Holy Rosary Parish Church to the beach area near Willy’s Beach Hotel all the way to Astoria Hotel and back via the main road
- 5:30 PM- Second Afternoon Regular Mass at the Holy Rosary Parish Church
- 6:30 PM- Group Showdown and Binayle at the Balabag Plaza
Expect a number of participants to showcase their costumes in the following categories:
- Balik-Ati Category- where costumes are made from indigenous materials, no paints allowed on the body and face and must only be covered with the traditional “uling” / “buling” (charcoal)
- Tribal Category- where costumes are made of recyclable materials or indigenous materials or a combination of both.
- Commercial Category- where participants may wear any commercial printed shirt or advocacy shirt and “buling” or body paints are allowed.
[googlemaps https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d2759.9169735641126!2d121.92027448623544!3d11.96674581716042!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x33a53c1689a8fbf5%3A0x415df1cb7de7e4a!2sOur+Lady+of+the+Most+Holy+Rosary!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sph!4v1546760624580&w=800&h=600]
The procession of the Santo Niño image will start from the Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Church at the Balabag Plaza Station 1 and will proceed to the beach area near Willy’s Beach Hotel. The procession will head back to the church through the beach access road near the Astoria Hotel and the main road.
On the other hand, the Street Dance will begin at the Balabag Plaza and will then proceed to the beach area near Willy’s Beach Hotel to go all the way down to the Tourist Center and then back to the Balabag Plaza.
Below are the Do’s and Dont’s:
- Bring own garbage bags for proper waste disposal
- Only personal water containers are allowed.
- Observe cleanliness at all times
- Ensure crowd control
- No bottles are allowd
- No smoking
- No pets allowed
- No littering
- No unnecessary and indecent costumes.
Watch the coverage of the Boracay Ati-Atihan in 2017 courtesy of Paradise Cable Television Network, Inc.
Watch my vlog during my visit to Boracay when it reopened on October 26, 2018 after six months of rehabilitation. Click here for the do’s and dont’s when visiting Boracay.
https://www.facebook.com/joeljawsandrada/videos/2294011257337147/
For better definition, watch this vlog on my Youtube channel.
Special thanks to Mr. Gian Kyle Talapian, Administrative Assistant and Youth Committee Chairman of the Malay-Aklan Local Government Unit- Boracay.
https://www.facebook.com/GkYap/posts/10215985278998315
I will be missing this event but will be visiting Boracay in February 2019. Let me know if you want to meet up. I can’t wait to be back!
