ILOILO CITY, Jan.18 (PNA)-The inclement weather brought about by tropical storm Amang has not dampened the performance of 28 participating tribes in yesterday’s judging day for the street dancing competition of this year’s Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan Festival 2015.
Festival organizer, Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan Foundation, Inc. (KASAFI) said the competition saw the Black Beauty Boys defend its title in Tribal Big category against four contesting tribes for the past five consecutive years already.
A total of P600,000 cash prize will be awarded to successful winners in Balik-Ati, Modern Group, Tribal Small and Big categories wherein winners in the Tribal Big category will receive a hefty P 150,000 for first prize, P 80,000 for second prize, and P 50,000 for third prize and three consolation prizes of P10,000 each successful tribes.
Yesterday’s competition showcase contesting tribes’s colorful and lively performance in their Ati-Ati dance steps to the rhythm of drumbeats and the shout of the traditional “Viva kay Senor Sto. Nino” in every four designated judging areas in Aklan’s capital town Kalibo.
Reports have it that since the highlights of the festivity started on Monday, Jan.12, VIPs and showbiz personalities trooped to Kalibo to enjoy the Ati-Atihan festival considered as the “Mother of all Philippine Festivals.”
Meanwhile, almost 700 personnel of the Philippine National Police, 12th Infantry Batallion, Philippine Army and civilian volunteers composed the security forces tasked to secure the festival particularly devotees, tourists and balikbayans joining the traditional merrymaking and street dancing popularly known in local dialect ‘sad-sad sa kalye.’
At least 250 police officers had been deployed during the celebration as several forces of the PNP in Western Visayas had been sent to Tacloban City to help secure the Papal visit.
Likewise, the security measure was augmented by the signing of a peace covenant between Kalibo PNP station and leaders of fraternity groups for this year Ati-Atihan Festival in Kalibo
Col. Pedro Enriquez, chief of police of Kalibo PNP station, said included in the peace covenant signing were juvenile offenders.
Enriquez said they will tap these frat leaders and juvenile offenders as tanod or peacekeepers to keep watch on pickpocketers and trouble makers during the celebration.
Apart from the peace pact signing, fraternity members were likewise placed under orientation relative to their role in this yearly tourist-drawing festivity.
Enriquez said this is one best practice implemented by the PNP station which they adapted every year.
Meanwhile, heavy flow of vehicular traffic was reported with the implementation of traffic re-routing scheme as well as the closure of major streets in this capital town Kalibo to pave way for for the street dancing competition. (PNA)