KALIBO, AKLAN - With no trace of the tragedy that struck the Ati-Atihan Festival last year, thousands of Aklanons yesterday flocked to the streets to mark the highlight of the annual festival.

Throngs of revelers gyrating to drum-beatings and chimes of xylophones mingled with soot-covered dancers of Ati tribes as they snaked around the Pastrana Park, the center of the sadsad (street-dancing and merry-making).

Before the revelries, Kalibo Bishop Jose Romeo Lazo celebrated High Mass at the Pastrana Park that was attended by around 3,000 devotees. Officials led by Aklan Rep. Florencio Miraflores, Gov. Carlito Marquez and Kalibo Mayor Raymar Rebaldo also attended the Mass.

Devotees brought images of the Sto. Niño in various sizes and dressed in colorful robes.

"We hope the celebration will be a religious experience for everyone amid the drum-beatings and revelry," Lazo said in his homily. He urged the devotees to remain faithful to the Sto. Niño "who has chosen no other manger than our hearts."

In his only reference to last year's killings, Lazo asked those who attended the Mass to offer a moment of silence for the victims of the carnage.

Eight persons were killed and 31 others were wounded when Negrense PO1 Jonathan Moreño, a security aide of Supt. Odelardo Magayanes, then Aklan police director, went on a rampage in front of the Kalibo police station on January 16, the final day of the festival.

Moreño killed Magayanes and Chief Insp. Manuel Ilejay Jr., then Kalibo police chief. He also shot dead SPO1 Juan Gorion, P02 Ricky Urquiola and P01 Devy Tompong

. Also killed were ten-year-old Judelyn Cuales and physician Dem Tirol. Moreño was gunned down by his fellow policemen.

That tragedy had shocked Aklanons who considered the killings the worst crime to have happened in Kalibo, known to be a peaceful town. Many revelers then decided to go home early dampening the highlight of the festivities.

Yesterday, the crowd was the same as in previous years. As the mass ended, Rebaldo led the traditional shouting of "Viva Señor Sto. Niño!" signaling the start of the merry-making.

The public plaza then erupted with the simultaneous beating of drums of all tribes as revelers poured into the streets.

The crowd and merry-making spilled even to Rizal and F. Quimpo Streets, the site of last year's carnage.

On Saturday, Kalibo residents were treated with a 15-minute fireworks display at the public plaza near midnight that was followed by street dancing until dawn of Sunday.

Security was, however, tight because of the visit of President Macapagal-Arroyo on Saturday.

The President announced that she has ordered the Tourism Department to release P55 million for the upgrading of the instrument landing system of the Kalibo airport.

She also inaugurated a P1.7-million five-classroom building at the Aklan National High School.

The President briefly joined the revelers after she witnessed the traditional paeapak healing ritual at the St. John the Baptist Cathedral.*NPB

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