Malay-Ati '06, Binirayan's grandest
Binirayan 2006 Malay-Ati competition on April 29 is the grandest and the biggest tribe competition in the festival's 32-year history. This is according to the Binirayan Foundation Inc., the festival's event organizer, headed by Mr. Alex Delos Santos as executive director.
As of press time, nine competing tribe has the chance to take home P100,000 cash prize for the grand winner. The second and third placer will get P50,000 and P30,000 respectively. Winners will likewise receive a trophy.
The Malay-ati is Antique's version of the Mardi-gras and street dancing. It is based on the cultural celebration of the province's history tracing the Antiqueños roots to the original settlers of Panay and the Malay immigrants who arrived around 12th century A.D. Thus, the collaboration of the Ati and Malay culture is showcased.
The organizer, for this year, had imposed the compulsory use of bamboo-made tonggatong and tultogan, which form the basic musical instruments, and the use of the Binirayan beat, which was first introduced in the ati-atihan tribes competition in the early 1980s.
The participating tribes are: Tribu Buroyloganay of Sibalom, Tribu Urukay of Anini-y, Tugbong of Pandan, Tribu Pahinis and Pahinis de Bukidnon both of Laua-an, Kamunuan of Hamtic, Azabrab of Barbaza, Tribu Banigan of Libertad and Tribu Ilahas of Brgy. Maybato Sur.
The competition will be held at the EBJ Freedom Park on April 29 at 1:00 PM. This will be followed by the Karsadyahan Street Dancing on the major thoroughfares of San Jose at 3:00 PM.