Kalibo, is the capital of the province of Aklan, one of the
oldest towns in the country. It is the center of economic, social, political,
religious activities and institution building of the province. Kalibo is
particularly located at the center of all coastal municipalities of the
province.
Kalibo is a first class municipality as classified by BLGF
per DOF Order No. 23-08 dated July 29, 2008.
It is composed of 16 barangays, two of which are island barangays.
The Ati-atihan
The place is popular for its Ati-atihan Festival, the Mardi
Gras of the Philippines.
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-. This is queer, but true.
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, Then
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 more so now when the entire nation is being
swept with social, economic and political crises.
History
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. On May 31, 1837, Capiz was declared a
political-military province. 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. 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 1569
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.
