This week’s festivals (Jan. 8 to 14)

Jan. 9

Feast of the Black Nazarene

Devotees from different provinces participate in the yearly devotion to the Black Nazarene. The event commemorates the “traslacion,” or journey of the 17th century statue from its original home in Luneta to Quiapo in Manila. The icon of Nuestro Padre Señor Jesus de Nazareno was brought by Augustinian Recollect priests to the Church of San Juan Bautista in Bagumbayan, now part of Luneta, on May 31, 1606.

Jan. 14 to 15

Kalibo Ati-Atihan Festival

Tribes compete in street dancing without a defined parade route in this festival in honor of the Sto. Niño in Kalibo, Aklan province. Considered the mother of Sto. Niño festivals, the Ati-Atihan traces its roots in the 13th century as a pagan ritual of Aeta people and later transformed into a Christian tradition in the 18th century after a Spanish priest baptized 1,000 inhabitants of Kalibo. The celebration coincides this year with the Sinulog Festival in Cebu province, which kicked off on Jan. 6 and will run until

Jan. 15.

This week’s milestones

(Jan. 8 to 14)

Jan. 8, 1946

Airmail service between Manila and Cebu province was extended to the town of Dumaguete in Negros Oriental province as well as the then provinces of Cagayan de Misamis and Davao.

Jan. 9, 1945

Gen. Douglas MacArthur and his forces landed on the shores of Lingayen Gulf in Pangasinan province to start the US military’s campaign to recapture Luzon from the Japanese. Around 68,000 troops land during the initial operations.

Sources: Inquirer Archives,

Historical Calendar (1521-1969)

Compiled by Kathleen   de Villa,

Inquirer Research