Kalibo Ati-atihan is the First Dance Festival in PHL History – NCCA Exec

KALIBO, Aklan- If the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) is to be believed, the Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-atihan is the first dance festival in Philippine history.

This was according to Shirley Halili-Cruz, chairman of the National Committee of Dance of the NCCA. Cruz told this trivia to Peter Macrohon, one of the cultural coordinators of Kalibo.

Unknown to many, Cruz serves as the chairman of the board of judges during the street dancing competition of the Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-atihan Festival. Other judges include Catherine Santos, NCCA Culture and Arts Officer; Jomar Mamauag, cultural director of the Marikina Polytechnic College; Basilidad Pilapil Jr., National Awardee for four decades of live performance; and Corazon Agustin, Event Organizer, Sayaw Kadayawan-Kadayawan Festival Davao City.

“The Kalibo Ati-atihan is the first dance festival based on history,” Cruz told Macrohon in a Facebook chat, a copy of which was obtained by the Boracay Island News Network.

For several years, the NCCA has considered the Kalibo Ati-atihan as the Mother of Philippine Festivals, giving inspiration to many local government units to organize their own ati-atihan themed festivals.

For his part, Kalibo Mayor Juris Sucro vowed for an improved staging of the Kalibo Ati-atihan Festival in January 2024.