By: Recto I. Vidal
A devotee of the Sto. Niño herself, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (Is she?) on Saturday, sought for the Church’s blessings in Kalibo, Aklan and prayed for her administration’s success in the campaign on charter change, translation of the peso into an economic take off and the success of the government’s campaign against terrorism and destabilization.
Clad in a blue Ati Atihan shirt draped with a shawl made of piña with a Sto. Niño brooch, she, during an informal interaction with the local media, bared these three wishes. She first visited the Kalibo Cathedral for the traditional “Paeapak” where she later met with Aklan Bishop Romeo Lazo and other clergy on the eve of the Kalibo Sto. Niño Ati-Atihan Festival celebration.
“Paeapak” is a traditional healing of illnesses beyond scientific medical remedy wherein the image of the Holy Child is presented to the faithful and believers who in turn ask for blessings and success in whatever endeavor they are in.
In her brief message to revelers and tourists alike delivered at the veranda of the Capt. Gil Mijares Building before noontime, Arroyo expressed elation over what she acknowledged as the “mother of all festivals.”
“I’d like to thank you all for making this festival bigger and bigger each year, thus earning its distinction as the mother of all festivals in the country,” she told the revelers who cheered lustily as she delivered her short message during the height of the revelry on Saturday noon.
Aklan Governor Carlito S. Marquez said that GMA made history as the first President to have ever graced the Sto. Niño Ati Atihan Festival, dubbed as the “queen of all festivals in the country,” being the country’s premier religious and cultural festival that attract thousands of devotees and tourists every third weekend of the year.
In her informal chat with the local media in Kalibo, Arroyo dismissed the notion that Ati Atihan has already been left behind by other festivals in the country as far as recognition is concerned.
“This festival still remains as the mother of all festivals in terms of attractions and spontaneity of audience participation. That’s why we don’t lack tourists in here,” she enthused as she described the festival’s appeal as irresistible.
Arroyo also disclosed that she has already ordered the DOTC to release P55 million for the installation of the instrument landing system for the Kalibo Airport.
“Considering that tourism is in full bloom here in Aklan, it is very important for us to provide the necessary facilities needed in providing access, safety and convenience for our tourists to make their travel and stay here enjoyable as possible.
During her visit here, Arroyo inaugurated a newly constructed five-classroom building of Aklan National High School for Arts and Trades (ANHSAT) in Andagao, Kalibo, distributed land titles, gave out PhilHealth cards for Aklan’s indigent families and distributed books.
The five classrooms of ANHSAT were constructed from January 2005 to October 2005 with a total cost of P1,697,000 sourced from the 2002 to 2003 Regular School Building Program, according to Richard Flores, the school principal. The 132 land titles were given to 91 beneficiaries covering some 29.9483 hectares located in ten Aklan towns. /MP mailto:madyaas_pen@yahoo.com
A devotee of the Sto. Niño herself, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (Is she?) on Saturday, sought for the Church’s blessings in Kalibo, Aklan and prayed for her administration’s success in the campaign on charter change, translation of the peso into an economic take off and the success of the government’s campaign against terrorism and destabilization.
Clad in a blue Ati Atihan shirt draped with a shawl made of piña with a Sto. Niño brooch, she, during an informal interaction with the local media, bared these three wishes. She first visited the Kalibo Cathedral for the traditional “Paeapak” where she later met with Aklan Bishop Romeo Lazo and other clergy on the eve of the Kalibo Sto. Niño Ati-Atihan Festival celebration.
“Paeapak” is a traditional healing of illnesses beyond scientific medical remedy wherein the image of the Holy Child is presented to the faithful and believers who in turn ask for blessings and success in whatever endeavor they are in.
In her brief message to revelers and tourists alike delivered at the veranda of the Capt. Gil Mijares Building before noontime, Arroyo expressed elation over what she acknowledged as the “mother of all festivals.”
“I’d like to thank you all for making this festival bigger and bigger each year, thus earning its distinction as the mother of all festivals in the country,” she told the revelers who cheered lustily as she delivered her short message during the height of the revelry on Saturday noon.
Aklan Governor Carlito S. Marquez said that GMA made history as the first President to have ever graced the Sto. Niño Ati Atihan Festival, dubbed as the “queen of all festivals in the country,” being the country’s premier religious and cultural festival that attract thousands of devotees and tourists every third weekend of the year.
In her informal chat with the local media in Kalibo, Arroyo dismissed the notion that Ati Atihan has already been left behind by other festivals in the country as far as recognition is concerned.
“This festival still remains as the mother of all festivals in terms of attractions and spontaneity of audience participation. That’s why we don’t lack tourists in here,” she enthused as she described the festival’s appeal as irresistible.
Arroyo also disclosed that she has already ordered the DOTC to release P55 million for the installation of the instrument landing system for the Kalibo Airport.
“Considering that tourism is in full bloom here in Aklan, it is very important for us to provide the necessary facilities needed in providing access, safety and convenience for our tourists to make their travel and stay here enjoyable as possible.
During her visit here, Arroyo inaugurated a newly constructed five-classroom building of Aklan National High School for Arts and Trades (ANHSAT) in Andagao, Kalibo, distributed land titles, gave out PhilHealth cards for Aklan’s indigent families and distributed books.
The five classrooms of ANHSAT were constructed from January 2005 to October 2005 with a total cost of P1,697,000 sourced from the 2002 to 2003 Regular School Building Program, according to Richard Flores, the school principal. The 132 land titles were given to 91 beneficiaries covering some 29.9483 hectares located in ten Aklan towns. /MP mailto:madyaas_pen@yahoo.com
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