“Ati Tribe”

(it represents Negrito ethnic group in the Visayas)

This Costume pays tribute to the Ati Tribe, who inhabit the mountain areas of Panay and
Negros where the Dinagyang Festival originated and this festival is one of the biggest and world-
class festivals in the Philippines. It traces the history of devotion to the Holy Child Jesus popularly
known to Filipino devotees as Sr. Sto. Nino. Popularized in Region 6 and the participants this festival
shows impressive choreography with colorful tribal costumes and striking props to present socio-
cultural and religious tableaus depicting life in Panay before the Spanish colonization and the advent
of Catholicism in the country.

The costume is primarily made from Tamarind seeds, dried coconut husks, and Luyus or Betel Nut
(Areca catechu), a species of palm which grows in the tropical Pacific, Southeast Asia, and parts of
East Africa. It symbolizes the ingenuity and resourcefulness of their Community as they utilize all
natural resources available in the environment for survival.

The sustainability of the materials used in this costume and the intricacy of the designs represent the
creative minds of Iloilo’s indigenous people and their collective efforts to preserve the heritage of the
past.