Diverse Cultures of our Community
Purposes:
To establish our humble town to other people
To attract tourists
KALIBO, AKLAN
St. John Cathedral(located at the heart of Kalibo)
Kalibo is the capital of the province of Aklan, in the northwest of Panay Island, Philippines. It is a First Class Municipality and the "International Gateway" in the Western Visayas Region practically located at the center of all coastal municipalities of Aklan province. The native Kalibonhon population of about 100,000 explodes to more than 350,000 during daytime being a commercial and educational haven that caters not only to the people of Aklan but also to transients coming from other nearby provinces, cities and countries. As a major tourism gateway, the influx of tourists to Boracay Island catalyzes rapid economic expansion and municipal landscape development. Tourism activity peaks in the heart of Kalibo every January as the yearly celebration of the world-famous Sto. Niño Ati-Atihan Festival - normally held during the 3rd Sunday of January, the Mother of Philippine Festivals attracts devotees, revelers, and tourists from different parts of the world to experience the utmost solemnity and unparalleled camaraderie and spontaneity - unique twin characteristics of the Ati-Atihan that truly make it the fiesta of all fiestas.
History
Kalibo in 1949
The term Kalibo comes from the Aklanon word "sangkâ líbo", ("one thousand"), the number of native (Ati aka aeta) people who attended the first Catholic Mass there. After this very first Mass, a celebration was held that was continued annually as the Ati-atihan festival.
From the time of the Spanish colonial administration until the institution of Pilipino as the national language in 1946, Kalibo was spelled as "Calivo".
The Origin of the Name: From Akean to Aklan to Calivo
According to Roman A. de la Cruz, the town (Kalibo) was originally called Akean by the inhabitants, the same as the name of the river in the place. The word akean itself connotes the warbling of running waters.
In the middle of Spanish rule, Aklan together with other towns, were fused to comprise the province of Capiz. 3 On May 31, 1837, Capiz was declared to be a political-military province.4 In 1956, Aklan was itself proclaimed by the Republic of the Philippines by virtue of Republic Act No. 1414,) signed by President Ramon Magsaysay on April 25, 1956.5 Seven months later, on November 8, 1956, the province was officially inaugurated and the municipality of Kalibo was made its capital.
From the time of arrival of the Spaniards to Aklan in 15698 to the early 1600s, the names Aklan and Calivo were used interchangeably to refer to the town. Aside from these, however, several other names and/or spellings, such as Calibo, Daclan, Adan, and Calibog have been used.
According to Roman A. de la Cruz, the town (Kalibo) was originally called Akean by the inhabitants, the same as the name of the river in the place. The word akean itself connotes the warbling of running waters.
It is traceable to the word "akae", meaning, to boil. "Akae-akae" means to bubble or to boil or make the sound of bubbling or boiling. It could be the same sound of current murmuring in the shallows of a river during dry summer, when the rains and floods are far away off.
In the middle of Spanish rule, Aklan together with other towns, were fused to comprise the province of Capiz. 3 On May 31, 1837, Capiz was declared to be a political-military province.4 In 1956, Aklan was itself proclaimed by the Republic of the Philippines by virtue of Republic Act No. 1414,) signed by President Ramon Magsaysay on April 25, 1956.5 Seven months later, on November 8, 1956, the province was officially inaugurated6 and the municipality of Kalibo was made its capital.
From the time of arrival of the Spaniards to Aklan in 15698 to the early 1600s, the names Aklan and Calivo were used interchangeably to refer to the town. Aside from these, however, several other names and/or spellings, such as Calibo, Daclan, Adan, and Calibog have been used.
Aklan as a Prehispanic Barangay
Unlike other settlements in ancient Philippines, there must have already been a good number of people residing along the river of Aclán prior to the coming of the Spaniards organized in communities. For it can be remembered that in 1569, when Legazpi arrived in Pan-ay, the Aclánons and Ibahainons fought against the Moro pirates who frequently devastated these two towns.29 If Aclán has no organized barangay government, they could not have helped the Spaniards who have sought their help crush the enemies 30 with its 500 Aclánon volunteers.31 Also on this year (1569) until 1571 (where Legazpi assigned encomiendas to his officers), the people of Aclán resided by the river. Aclán, having 2,000 Indios, is believed to be one of the bigger and organized barangays in ancient times.
From Encomienda to Pueblo
On 17 November 1526, [the then King] Chares V issued instructions that all future expeditions be accompanied by at least two priests to make sure that the conquistadores did not imperil the "immortal soul" of the king [of Spain] in the process of extending his earthly dominions. Priest had actually regularly accompanied Spanish expeditions overseas even before 1526. They were needed to attend to the spiritual life of the members of the expedition; and if the task of evangelization in the newly-discovered lands was the responsibility of the crown, then the priests presence were essential.
It is already known that the King ordered Legazpi to assign and allot as encomiendas the villages of the islands to the soldiers who were with him in the voyage, to which Legazpi complied. Later on, however, the encomienda system was abolished by the King because of the abuses of some encomienderos to the natives. This was in the year 1574.32 But it was not until half a century later that the encomienda system was wholly abolished.33 The missionaries, in the meantime, being the ones responsible in reporting to the King of Spain the abuses of the encomienderos, tried to find means to protect, and at the same time, to forward their aim to convert the natives. From Agoncillo, the following passages have been taken:
One of the first tasks… imposed on the missionaries and the encomienderos was to collect all the scattered Filipinos together in a reduccion (resettlement) bajo el son de la campana (under the sound of the bell) or bajo el toque de la campana (under the peal of the bell).
As early as 1580, the Franciscans… proceeded to establish pueblos… where the church and convent would be constructed. All the new Christian converts were required to construct their houses around the church and the unbaptized were invited to do the same. This was approved… by… the then Governor General of the Philippines himself. The reduccion plan presented by Franciscan Fr. Juan de la Plasencia to the Synod of Manila (1582) was approved unanimously by missionaries of the religious orders.
With the reduccion, the Spaniards attempted to tame the… Filipinos through Christian indoctrination in a quite novel settlement pattern using the convento/casa real/plaza complex as a focal point…
With the reduccion, the pre-colonial barangays metamorphosed externally and internally.
With the reduccion, the encomiendas were re-laid out to accommodate a pueblo where a church and convent would be constructed. As how the barangay transformed to become the encomienda, the same people in the same place under a different label.
With the reduccion, Aclán was accepted by the Augustinians to become one of its parishes on April 22, 1581.35 It could not, however, be Aclán's acceptance as a parish which signaled its development as a town. It was not hard for the Spaniards to impose the reduccion in Aclán; there was, no need for the Spaniards to gather the residents of Aclán in one place. Aclán was, in the very first place, already a large settlement prior to the coming of the Spaniards. It should not be taken that the founding of Aclán was after or based on the reduccion concept. If it should thus be asked when Aclán was founded as a town in the concept of the Spaniards, it was when it was assigned as an encomienda on November 3, 1571. The moment Aclán became an encomienda to the Spaniards, it fostered the development of the place to gradually become a town as people conceive of it now.
source: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalibo,_Aklan)
Traditions of the Community
Traditions of the community invloves, living together with the grandparents and taking care of each other. And Celebrating the famous Ati-atihan Festival together with friends and family.
Celebrations of the Community
Ati-Atihan is making one's self like the Ati or Aeta or pretending to be one. Kalibo's "frenzied and raucous" historical and religious festivity observed every second week and culminating on the 3rd Sunday of January came from that intent. Citizens, tourist and pilgrims in this town smear themselves with soot or any blackening substance to look like an Aeta.
Ati-Atihan is believed to have started in the year 1212 when Borneans led by the ten Datus packed themselves in several boats or "baeangays," (barangay) and crossed the seas to escape the unpopular regime of Sultan Makatunaw. They landed in Panay Island and established the first community of the brown race in this country and the first union of states in Southeast Asia — the Confederation of Madyaas.
Few have the knowledge that the first Ati-Atihan was celebrated to seal a peace pact that united two races and peoples — the Aetas and the Malays with totally different cultures and spiritual creeds — to embrace each other and give way to an enduring legacy of reconciliation that gave birth to the Philippine nation. The commemoration of the Ati-Atihan festivals in essence has become significant when the entire nation is being swept with social, economic and political crises.
The saga of this great migration told and related for generation started in the Court of Brunei under the regime of Sultan Makatunaw whose insecurity and greed for power transformed him into tyrant after the collapse of the Sri-Visayan empire and the remnants of its vast territory were at the mercy of the conquering hordes of Madjapahit warriors. The widespread discontent under Makatunaw's rule reached the point of a popular uprising and Datu Puti, his chief minister, with his followers decided to leave and seek peace in a new land.
One night the rebels under the leadership of Datu Puti, stealthily left their "baeangays" and faced the seas for distant unknown destiny. Guided by the stars and favored by tropical winds, they reached the islands of Sugbu (Cebu), Parawan (Palawan) and Buglas (Negros). The topography and the nearness of this islands to the island where they came from discouraged their settling down. They were already bound in their direction of the islands of Romren (Romblon) when they were attracted by a silhouette of a mountain summit shaped like a salakot ("mangkusarok") in the horizon. The group that was already plagued by big waves, strong current, diseases, hunger and thirst in the high seas and whose most valued treasure in their possession they brought in their escape was a "saruk nga bug-os nga bueawan" (golden salakot), interpreted the sighting as a good omen. They changed course and headed toward the beacon of the mountain and landed at the sunrise of the first "Tigueak" in 1212 A.D. in the island of Panay then called Aninipay (named after a plant that abound in the place and whose fine unwashable bristles causes skin eruption and irritation which could not be easily cured). They named the island Madyaas or paradise in contrast to the land they left behind.
With the party of Datu Puti and wife Pinangpangan were Datus Sumakwel with wife Kapinangan, Lubay, Balkasua, Bangkaya with wife Katurung, Paiburong, Dumagsol, Dumalugdug and Paduhinog with wife Ribungsapaw and their selected loyal subjects.
After the landing, they sought audience with Ati Chieftain Marikudo and offered to buy the entire island. After several weeks of negotiation, the plains of Panay was offered for peaceful settling of the Malays in exchange for a golden salakot, brass basins, bales of cloth along with a trinket for Maniwangtiwang (wife of Marikudo) the link of which reached her feet and a harvest for one summer of the produce of the sea, while the hinterlands remained for the Aetas.
A glorious celebration to seal the negotiation followed. The unending flow of native wine (tuba) and the sumptuous meal motivated the start of merry-making. The Malays in their effort to show appreciation and sincerity and to further befriend their host smeared themselves with soot from their cooking utensils to look like Aetas. The uninhibited spontaneous dancing of the two races lasted till the wee hours of the morning to the bet and music of native songs, "bagtoes" and drums of the Aetas and the Malays.
Thus started the first Ati-Atihan which was commemorated by Datu Bangkaya when he first established Madyanos or little paradise (later renamed Aclan which was also changed to Kalibo) at the bank of the Aklan River on the second Tagbueukad (Saturday) of Dagangkahoy (February).
When the ten datus founded their own settlements, Datu Bangkaya, the intellectual among the ten and the chief advisor of Datu Puti, established the town of Madyanos (little paradise) i the west bank of the Aklan river and there he commemorated the purchase of every harvest.
On how the Ati-Atihan became a religious feast, Aklanon historian Beato dela Cruz recounts:
"In 1750, one Fray Andres de Aguirre, a Basque companion priest of Fray Andres Urdaneta and explorer Miguel Lopez de Legaspi baptized in one day 1,000 inhabitants of the town and surrounding settlements in the place. To celebrate the eventful day, the drums of Aklan were sounded for this beneficial event and coincided with the existing Ati-Atihan feast. Thus, the present Ati-Atihan is tinged with religious fervor is now associated with miracles. Devotees nowadays participate in the street dancing, novena and masses or fall in line at the century-old Kalibo Cathedral just to let their bodies be massaged or rubbed with the image of the Sto. Niño" (de Kalibo).
Some of the young may have abandoned the old culture and religious significance in their street revelry and have adopted the modern stance of the computer age. Most of them may no longer smear their faces and bodies with soot but instead wear grotesque make-ups (or none at all) and outstanding costumes of their age. Other prefer mere T-shirts or ponchos rather than the tribal garments of the 12th and the 13th centuries.
Beliefs of the People
religious belief, the fervor, warmth, fun and gaiety, the pomp and the fun fare, historically and culturally identified with the Ati-Atihan — an expansion of proud customs and traditions and enduring legacy of peace and reconciliation have remained untarnished through the passing of time from the celebration of the purchase of Panay in the year 1212 from chief Punuan Datu Bangkaya to Aklan Encomiendero Antonio Flores, from Cabeza Juan Matanga to the present elected Mayor. For culturally, only Kalibonhons throughout the centuries have consistently given significance to this historical legacy as they possess the natural love for festivities. Every Kalibonhon's soul and soaring spirit "has the gift of rhythm and passion for music."
Barangay/Local Officials
Baranggay Estancia
Aklan, Kalibo (Capital), Estancia, Barangay Chairman, Edison M Inocenio
Aklan, Kalibo (Capital), Estancia, Kagawad 1, Daisy C Andrade
Aklan, Kalibo (Capital), Estancia, Kagawad 2, Lydio A Ureta
Aklan, Kalibo (Capital), Estancia, Kagawad 3, Richiel R Militar
Aklan, Kalibo (Capital), Estancia, Kagawad 4, Amelyn P Fernandez
Aklan, Kalibo (Capital), Estancia, Kagawad 5, Leve M Diangson
Aklan, Kalibo (Capital), Estancia, Kagawad 6, Ariel DC Melgarejo
Aklan, Kalibo (Capital), Estancia, Kagawad 7, Julito T Flaviano
Aklan, Kalibo (Capital), Estancia, SK Chairman, Michael Angelo R Melgarejo
Recreations of the Community
and the People
Aklanon's favorite recreation includes watching the Mutya at Lakan search annually. Where the loveliest and Handsome Aklanon's compete for the said title. They also have Body Painting competitions, Poster making and a Photo contest.
Aklanon's favorite recreation includes watching the Mutya at Lakan search annually. Where the loveliest and Handsome Aklanon's compete for the said title. They also have Body Painting competitions, Poster making and a Photo contest.
Family concerns and practices
- How many children do they have
Most of the Aklanon families ideal number of children are 3-4
- Do they practice family planning
Most of the Aklan couple practice family planning but in the rural parts of Aklan where technology has not reached its peak are not familiar with contraceptives, thus having more that enough children.
- Are they contented about their present situations?
Many are contented, and help are extended to those who need.
- What age do they usually marry?
According to a survey, from 2008-2012, couples tend to settle down at the age of 22 and above.
- Are they extended family? Up to how many families live in one roof?
Many Aklanon's are in an extended family, more or less three families in one roof, but plenty are still deciding to have a home to themselves.
Specialties, delicacies,
products of the community
Aklan is well known for banana chips, but other dishes include binakoe - chicken cooked inside bamboo and ibos - sweet rice flavoured with ginger and cooked in a banana leaf. Aklans current popular dishes also include oysters with creamy spinach, bacon and cheese.
Potential Spots for Tourism
Nabas Cold Springs
Nabas has one of the last remaining low elevation intact rainforest that is home to various endemic flora and fauna. Nabas also cradles numerous waterfalls providing soothing and interesting recreationa area. A perfect place for ecotourist, it has several therapeutic cool dipping basins.
Madalag River
Madalag, Aklan A town full of promise. In its simplicity, Madalag projects an aura of quiet charm and beautiful scenery from its rolling hills and evergreen mountains.
Buruanga Aklan Diving Spot
The municipality being known as one of the smallest town is now increasingly becoming a center of tourism with several points of interests identified:
Batasan Point- is rich in surrounding marine lives & is said to be the best stop over for scuba divers, snorkelers, cliff-board divers, excursionists, & nature enthusiast.
Ashram Balay- Pagduaw - known for its advocacy on finding spiritual peace with nature. The place is perfect for meditation, relaxation & retreats.
Talisay Beach- offers a perfect place for relaxation or venue for theme parties & excursions. Sabang Cave- with the elevated location of the cave, one can witness the stunning panorama of long stretch of beaches, seascapes, & the green fields of Sabang.
Ignito Cave- the longest & the grandest cave discovered in the locality. The cave is noted for its abundant deposit of guano from various species of Bats & Birds finding shelters inside the cave. Millennium years of drifting waters inside the cave sculpted various & stunning formation of stalactites & stalagmites. The stone walls radiates sparkling colors when strike by lights.
Hidden Paradise- offers a magnificent venue for camping & excursion. The elevated location offers the best scenery to witness the panoramic view of sunset, mountains, rivers, seas & green fields of the municipality.
And Many More!!!
Acknowledgement
I would like to thank my grandfather, Perpetuo Aguila Sr. for giving me information regarding information about Kalibo, Aklan.
Credits
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalibo,_Aklan
http://www.aklan.gov.ph/aklan_tourism.php
http://zamboanga.com/z/index.php?title=Barangay_Elected_Officials_of_Aklan_Province_for_the_term_of_2010-2013#Kalibo.2C_Aklan.2C_Philippines
http://www.kaliboatiatihan.ph/Kalibo-Atiatihan-Activities-2012/2013-kalibo-sto-nino-ati-atihan-festival-photo-contest-rules.html
