Hala Bira! Ati-atihan 2013 : Teacher's Day

After a 3 hour bus ride from Ilo-ilo City, I finally arrived in Kalibo early evening. It's only through Ilo-ilo that one can reach Kalibo by air from Cagayan de Oro without having to transit in Manila.  I paid 238.00 pesos for the Ceres Aircon.

After arriving in Ilo-ilo airport earlier, I took the van service from the airport and specifically told the van driver to drop me at the Save More Jaro (near the Jaro Cathedral, nearest point) where one can take the jeepney or taxi to the Tagbak Bus terminal. Van fare is 60 pesos, while jeepney to the Tagbag Bus Terminal is around 10pesos.  Taxi should not be more than 100pesos.

Dinner was at Ralphs Ihawan which is just across the hotel where I checked-in.  They serve one of the tastier grilled chicken and 'talaba' in town.

I had a prepaid booking at the Novetel Hotel which was near the central market and Gaisano.  The hotel's around 3 blocks away from the Pastrana Park area where most activity takes place. Very accessible, indeed and not to mention the CHEAPEST I found a few months back. One should take note that during Ati-atihan weekend, almost all hotels in Kalibo will triple or even quadruple their rates!  As one Australian tourist commented, "bloody hotel business here in Kalibo ...". Novotel went double for the weekend.

After a hot shower, I hit the 'sack' early due to exhaustion from the long trip.  I need to rise up early also the following day to see the street dancing parade and competition - one of the many that took place since the start of the week.

Day 1Viva, Maestro! Hala Bira, Maestra! : Beyond the four corners of their classrooms.

This was the first 'sinaot sa kalye' (street dance)  I witnessed on my first day here in Kalibo. My very first time to witness what has been touted to be the 'Mother of All Philippine Festivals'.

No special IDs and the likes were needed if you want to take pictures during the street dancing.  You just need to be conscious of your 'shooting' etiquette.  I stationed myself at the Mabini Street, the area fronting the Kalibo Pilot Elementary School.  The street was wide and the lighting from the sun was favorable.

 

The teachers performed that day.  The students had their presentation the previous day. I would have loved to see them perform.  Next year, perhaps?

The concept for the competition was Reduce-Reuse-Recycle.  

True enough, this was very evident in all of the participants costumes and props.  Their costumes were colorful and the moves were synchronized. It was still a competition, after all.  

One thing common among them though, was that in each contingent, the front-line dancers would have be bringing in dance the image of the Sto. Nino.

I had the initial impression that all contingents would be painting their faces and bodies with soot - only one did. It would have interesting to see all of them with the black soot on, after all it was the Ati-atihan. I guess time has change or maybe this was just a modern interpretation.

 

I decided to wait for the rest of the contingent at the Pastrana Park where the parade was suppose to end.  There, the participants were given the final opportunity to present their respective routines.   

The place was jammed-packed with spectators.  No special ID was needed if you want to take picture.  Just go to the nearest possible location without distracting the audience and the dancers.

The presentation was simultaneous in groups of three.  This can be daunting to a single photographer who would be faced with the problem on how to shoot the other group. I just decided to stay in the location where i had a good view of the Cathedral which acted as the background.

 

After the performances, and after a few speeches for the DEPED officials, the winners were announced. It was fast, no more waiting time for the performers.