Ati-atihan: Barter of Panay

After a long time of waiting for our internet connection to be "normal" again, alas I can now make my post about the recent Ati-atihan Festival.

Many historians, if not all, disregard the authenticity of the said event. There was no written account and no significant proof to solidify the claim. Hence I classify it for myself as mere myth or legend. To the uninitiated, this is the story...

Aetas used to roam in the lowlands of Panay...

Legend claims that they were ruled by an Ati Chief that goes by the name of Marikudo together with his wife, Maniwantiwan (Maniwangtiwang).

Datu Puti and his wife, Pinangpangan, and the nine other datus, namely Sumakwel, Dumangsil, Lubay, Balkasua, Bangkaya, Paiburong, Dumangsul, Dumalugdog and Paduhinog, with their respective wives and subordinates arrived in boats called the Balangay (Baeangay).

Instead of waging war to conquer the island, they made peaceful negotiations with the Ati Chief Marikudo.

Several offerings by the Bornean settlers were given to them, namely of bales of cloth, precious jewels, a golden salakot and trinkets for Maniwangtiwang, and other material objects.

The Aetas accepted the gifts and decided to live in the hinterlands of Panay and let the new settlers inhabit the lowlands and the coast.

To show their appreciation and to symbolize ther solidarity with the Aeta's, the Borneans smeared their skin with soot to look like the Aeta's to further befriend their hosts while dancing to the beat and music of the native drums, drinking and merrymaking until the wee hours of the morning

One day...

The Spaniards arrived in the island, and they introduced Christianity to the natives. They were converted during the Feast of the Holy Child (Sto. Niño). Merrymaking, dancing, singing, and also shouting "Viva kay Señor Sto. Niño!" (Long live the Holy Child!) followed. And according to the legend, this is how the Ati-atihan started and it evolved to the Ati-atihan we know and love today.

PAGCOR aims to help DOT

PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation) assured to help the DOT (Department of Tourism) in promoting tourism.

Chairman Efren Genuino visited the province of Aklan as part of PAGCOR'S aim to assist in tourism promotion in the countryside.

This year, he says, he will be visiting other provinces to study the possibilities of how they could be able to help tourism promotion. He says that the assistance and projects will depend on the needs of the province.

PAGCOR plans in helping the countryside by bringing in potential investors and to assist in sports and tourism development of the province.

PAGCOR is currently exploring the potentials of the town 0f Libacao as an alternative tourism destination. They say their plan for Libacao is still a secret.

Libacao, Aklan

Faces of Dinagyang

Sometimes we get so lucky that we forget the feeling of being unlucky. Most of the time though, I'm sort of lucky. Think of it this way... I was almost squished by a ginormous truck several times and yet I'm still here.

But this time, I was not so lucky... Why?? Our internet connection was, well not connected for several really boring days. And my friend's site exploreiloilo.com was also down for the count, that's why I was not able to post my Dinagyang pics and my supposedly link for the schedule. Its better late than never though. So here's some of the pics from Dinagyang 2008. Enjoy ^^