Giant Parade 2013

Higante Parade

Aklan Festivals and Higantes in Kalibo

KALIBO, Aklan – The most colorful festivals and papier-mâché giants (Higantes) in Aklan will converge for the upcoming Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan festival.

This coming January 14, the Aklan Festivals Parade will gather the different festivals across the province into one grander and vibrant celebration in Kalibo, Aklan. 

The ‘One Town, One Festival’ joining the celebration are Saguibin Festival of Banga,  Aklan Ati Festival of Batan, Panagat Festival of Buruanga, Bayangan Festival of Lezo and Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan Festival of Malinao.

Other entries are Fiesta de Obreros of Malay, the Bariw Festival of Nabas, Bugna it Tangalan and Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan of Kalibo.

The festival street dance contingents will be judged during the parade and the ground demonstration at the Kalibo Pastrana Park. 

The criteria for the street dancing and ground demonstration are choreography- difficulty and uniqueness of the festival dance steps and appeal (40%); performance, endurance and execution- dance vibrancy during the entire presentation, ground movements and execution and liveliness (30%); costume, props and music-utilization of props related to the town’s festival and music (20%) and audience impact (10%).

The champion will bring home P25,000; first runner-up P15,000 and second runner-up P10,000. 

Consolation prizes will be given for the remaining towns of P5,000 each. All participants were given also P15,000 subsidy for the Aklan Festivals Parade.

On the other hand, the theme for this year’s Aklan Higante Contest is Ecological Tourism: Endangered Species.

The Higante figures, measuring eight to 12 feet, will be judged on January 17 during the street parade and at the Kalibo Pastrana Park.

The criteria for judging are relevance – the appropriateness and unity of the Higantes and design to the theme (25%), creativity – the uniqueness and creative imagination of the artist or designer (30%), artistry – esthetic qualities of the Higantes and design to include beauty, proportion, dimension and color (30%) and audience impact/appeal (10%).

The Higante participants are Alibangbang (butterfly) of Balete, Hornbill of Nabas, Lizard of Banga, Turtle of Kalibo, Usa (deer) of Libacao, Agila (eagle) of Malinao and Pikoy (parrot) of Numancia. 

Seeing action also are the town of Madalag for Bukaw (owl), Ibajay for Giant Clam (taklobo) and Batan for Fish (Kugtong). 

The grand winner will receive P40,000, first runner-up P35,000 and second runner-up will get P30,000. Consolation prizes will be awarded also for P5,000 each for the remaining Higantes.

A financial subsidy of P20,000 were also given for the Higante contest participants.  

The Aklan Festivals contingents and Aklan Higante Contest entries will gather along Desposorio Maagma, Sr. Street at around 1 p.m. for their grand parade on January 14 and January 17, respectively.

The participants will pass the Mabini Street, turn left to Roxas Avenue, turn left to Pastrana Street, turn right to Archbishop Street, turn left to C. Laserna Street, turn left to XIX Martyrs and then enter the Kalibo Pastrana Park. 

The events are organized by the Aklan Provincial Tourism Office and the Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan Foundation, Inc. (Kasafi) with the support of the Aklan Congressional District Office of Aklan Rep. Florencio Miraflores, the Provincial Government of Aklan of Governor Carlito Marquez and Vice Governor Gabrielle Calizo-Quimpo and Ang Kasangga Partylist Representative Teodorico Haresco, Jr.

And The GRAND WINNER is......................

‘Alibangbang’ of Balete is 2013 Aklan Higante 

Artistry and creativity took front seat as the entries of the towns of Balete, Malinao and Kalibo emerged victorious in the 2013 Aklan Higante Contest, one of the much awaited activities of the Senor Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan festival in Kalibo, Aklan.

The 10 Higante contest entries that paraded for over three hours drew thousands of locals and tourists to the streets of Kalibo on January 17. 

Alibangbang (butterfly) it Balete won the grand prize of P40,000 in the annual Ati-Atihan event sponsored by the provincial government of Aklan.

The Higante from Balete was decorated with flowers and enchanting characters from fairies to mystical creatures all over the float to depict this year’s contest theme, “Ecological Tourism: Endangered Species.” 

The stunning huge Alibangbang took two weeks for the local government of Balete to build and decorate, said Balete councilor Patrick Lachica, also an artist.

Dueongan (Writh-billed Hornbill) Bantay it Kagueangan of the town of Malinao won P35,000 for second place and Pawikan (Turtle) of Kalibo emerging third for P30,000.

Usa (Wild Deer) of Libacao came in fourth place and Pekoy (Parrot) of Numancia copped fifth place. Hornbill of Nabas won sixth place, Taclobo (clam) of Ibajay and Bukaw (owl) of Madalag tied for seventh place.

Mana-oe of Batan in the ninth place and Tarsier of Banga in tenth place. The seven runner-up entries received P5,000 each. 

Aklan governor Carlito Marquez led the awarding of prizes along with Vice governor Gabrielle Calizo-Quimpo, Aklan Rep. Florencio Miraflores and Ang Kasangga Partylist Rep. Teodorico Haresco, Jr. 

The entries were judged based on the criteria of relevance of the Higante and design to the theme of the contest (25%), creativity (30%), artistry (30%) and audience impact and appeal (15%).