The Ati are a Negrito ethnic group indigenous to Panay Island in the Philippines, believed to have arrived from Borneo 20,000 to 30,000 years ago. They practice animism alongside Christianity and are known for their herbal medicine, traditional rituals, and unique marriage customs. The Ati are central to several local festivals, such as the Ati-Atihan and Dinagyang, which celebrate their heritage and the integration of cultural practices.

2. The Ati are a Negrito ethnic
group in the Visayas, the central
portion of the Philippine
archipelago. Categorized as
“Negritos” (meaning black) by
the Spanish colonizers.

3. Ati people are the original
people of Panay Island, an
island located in the central
part of the Philippines.

4. Characteristics

6. In the Philippines the Aetas or Ati ancestors were the 'aboriginals' or the
'first' inhabitants of this Archipelago. They most probably arrived from Borneo
20-30,000 years ago, through what is thought to be an isthmus (remnants of
which today comprise the island of Palawan) that in the prehistoric epoch
connected the Philippine archipelago to Borneo via a land bridge. According to
some oral traditions, they also predate the Bisaya, who now inhabit most of the
Visayas.
HISTORY

7. Beliefs, Cultural and
Traditional Practices of Ati

8. RELIGION
The Ati practice a form
of animism that involves good and
evil spirits..
The Ati from Negros refer to them as
taglugar or tagapuyo, which literally
means "inhabiting a place."
Christianity has also been adopted
due to less isolation and more
contact with "outsiders".

9. The Ati believe in God, Spirits
and Sacrifices. However the
christtianized Ati pray to the
Christian God. The Ati Believe
in magwala and magdli,.
Another spirit being identified
is abog, the chief herdsman of
wild pigs and deer. The Ati
perform rituals in their daily
chores.

10. Medicine Practices
Ati are known in Panay as
practitioners of herbal medicine.
Locals often seek their help in
removing leeches from a person's
body.

11. Hunting
Fishing

13. Wraparound skirts
Loincloths

14. Jewelry is simple in nature.
Some jewelry objects involve
plants such as flowers, while
others use animal bones;
particularly the teeth of pigs.

15. Traditional Ati house are
of the wind-screen type
made out of forest
materials. The structure
consists of two wind-
screens brought together
to form a gabled roof.

16. Courtship and Marriage
The Ati have to a large extent
been influenced by the marriage
customs of the Christian Filipinos
as indicated by the Spanish terms
which they currently use. But
inspite of this extensive
borrowing, some elements and
survivals of their former marriage
customs can still be gleaned. The
act of courting is
called pangaluyag.

17. The Ati speak
a Visayan language
known as Inati. As of
1980, the speakers of
Inati number about
1,500. Hiligaynon and
Kinaray-a are also
commonly used.

19. Ati-atihan festival
The Ati are the central attraction in
the Ati-atihan festival, a festival
named in their honor. This is a
celebration in honor of the Infant
Jesus, the town's patron. Ati-
Atihan, observed in honor of the
Child Jesus. Ati-atihan means
'making like Atis,' that is,
pretending to be like the aboriginal
natives that once inhabited Aklan.

20. Dinagyang festival
Dinagyang is a
Hiligaynon word
extrapolated from
dagyang meaning
“merrymaking”
It celebrates the
feast of the Infant
Jesus and the pact
between the Datus
and the locals.

21. Masskara Festival was started by
the people of Bacolod City to
uplift the spirits of the locals and
bring back the smiles on their
faces,. It is a declaration of the
people that they will rise and
survive the challenges and
tragedies that they are facing,
showing their resilience and
tenacity.
Masskara Festival

22. The Sinulog Festival is a traditional celebration in
Cebu City held every third Sunday of January to
honor the Santo Niño (Child Jesus). Basically, the
festival is done by a dance ritual, in which it tells the
story of the Filipino people's pagan past and their
acceptance of Christianity.
Sinulog Festival