Tribes finish the religous procession with the image of the senor going home to his church. imagine a closed building with more than 10 tribes with their drums playing to the beat of the ati-atihan. Spirituality is one of the strengths we miss when we identify community strengths that can protect us from the threat of HIV.

Aklan is home to atiatihan 7 municipalities in the province celebrate in january the feast day of the senor. Ibajay a municipality 4 municipalities away from kalibo on the way to caticlan toass the celebration in the most indigenous ways. Butterfly Brigade joins the celebration this year.

Atiatihan HIV Advocacy 2009

This year, POPSHOP, the Province of Aklan's long time partner in the Reproductive Health Advocacy, supports the Annual SadSad of the Provincial Health Office, to bring information on STI,HIV and AIDS prevention and control out on the streets of kalibo, The contingent of the Provincial Health Office (around 400-500 strong) which includes under its wings the DRSTMH staff promotes the services of the PHO and DRSTMH on STI, to improve access and avail of its services. Taking advantage of the annual parade of the Provincial Government, The Provincial AIDS Council and the Provincial Health Office brings this advocacy out specially during the atiatihan festival, when kalibo's laidback, sleepy pace, becomes fast paced with the beat of the drums and the influx of people from neighboring provinces, all parts of the philippines and the world. The population balloons to 3 times more during the last 3 days of the festival week, with the culmination (feast day of Senor Sto. Nino) on the 3rd sunday of January.
Viva!!!

WadSadSad

It started raining at around 2 P.M. torrential rains that made us worry if the Annual WADSADSAD will push thru. Miss Cj, of the Aklan State University, one of the campus that we visited this year for the annual outreach for young people with information on HIV prevention calls that the faculty of the State University will not allow the students to SadSad and riskn getting sick from the rain. I was ready to throw-up with the worry that other agencies know that rain of shine the WADSADSAD show must go on we have sadsad in the rain 3 years ago and we will sadsad this year.
We prayed for the rain to stop like we have never prayed the rain to stop before.
3:30 P.M. the rain STOPPED.
Wev go out the assembly point and the band was there, the students were there,the agency partners were there.
WADSADSAD is a SHOW
it is a show of support for our advocacy
it is a show of how strong the partnership is
it is a show of how strong we will push this advocacy forward
and like all SHOWS, it MUST go on......

WAD 2009 Campus Tour

Ati-Atihan HIV Advocacy 2009

atiatihan HIV Advocacy 2009