Ati-Atihan means "to become like Aetas" or in modern terms an "Ati Cosplay". It was originally a pagan animist festival that the Spaniards adapted in honor of the Sto. Niño celebrated every third sunday of January.
Kalibo's Ati-Atihan is the mother of all the big Sto. Niño festivals of Sinulog in Cebu and Dinagyang in Iloilo. It's the biggest fiesta that is "non-commercialized" and stays true to its Filipino Fiesta vibe. It's a "participative fiesta" where you dance with the performers vs. a "spectator fiesta" where you just watch in the sidelines. They say you have not experienced a Filipino fiesta unless you've been to Ati-Atihan.
The Aetas celebrated the occasion with eating, dancing, and merry making that became the inspiration of what we now call as the Filipino Fiesta.
You can hear the drums of the Sadsad starting at around 10.00am in the major streets of Kalibo.
At first, you enjoy watching them but after some time the beating of the drums mesmerizes and hypnotizes you to join them in the parade. To best experience sadsad, follow the group that you can relate to and enjoy their company.
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