BORACAY ISLAND, AKLAN

Boracay Island is a small island located in the Philippines located approximately 300 km south of Manila. Boracay Island and the beaches of the island has gained so much fame and even awards from many numerous travel publications and agencies.

BANAUE RICE TERRACES, IFUGAO

One of the major appeal of Banaue rice terraces to the local and international tourist are the many hiking trails in the area. There are many young locals, mostly college students who serve as guides. But with or without a guide, you will find the friendliness and warmth of the Ifugao people endearing.

MAYON VOLCANO, ALBAY

Classified as a stratovolcano (a volcano made up of layers of lava alternating with cinder and ash) Mount Mayon or Mayon Volcano is very much active and is located in the in the Bicol Region, in the province of Albay, on Luzon Island, Philippines.

CHOCOLATE HILLS, BOHOL

The most famous tourist spot of Bohol which marked the symbol of this Province is in the Municipality of Carmen. These unique landform known as “Chocolate Hills” was formed ages by the uplift of coral deposits and the action of rainwater erosion. The hills are scattered throughout the towns of Carmen, Sagbayan and Batuan, and consist of 1,268 of the same general shape.

TUBBATAHA REEF, SULU

The Tubbataha Reef Marine Park covers 130,028 ha, including the North and South Reefs. It is a unique example of an atoll reef with a very high density of marine species; the North Islet serving as a nesting site for birds and marine turtles. The site is an excellent example of a pristine coral reef with a spectacular 100-m perpendicular wall, extensive lagoons and two coral islands.

Showing posts with label Ati-atihan Festival. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ati-atihan Festival. Show all posts

Friday, January 9, 2015

Ati-atihan Festival

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ATI-ATIHAN FESTIVAL
A 13th century (c.1200 A.D.) event explains the origins of the festival. A group of 10 Malay chieftains called Datus, fleeing from the island of Borneo settled in the Philippines, and were granted settlement by the Ati people, the tribes of Panay Island. The Ati-Atihan was originally a pagan festival from this tribe practicing Animism, and their worshiping their anito god. Spanish missionaries gradually added a Christian meaning. Today, the Ati-Atihan is celebrated as a religious festival.

Ati-Atihan is celebrated every third weekend of January, the entire town center erupts in frenzied, non-choreographed dancing and shouting “Hala Bira! Puwera Pasma!” to the beats of snare drums, bass drums, trumpets, xylophones and a cacophony of other instruments seemingly playing from all the corners of this sleepy little boomtown of Kalibo.

Thus the Bornean settlers, in camaraderie with the Atis, daubed their faces with soot and black paint, and danced to the beat of the drums to celebrate the arrival in their new home. What began as a feast of friendship and reconciliation evolved into the most decadent, the most colorful and the wildest Philippine festival ever.

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