Tribesman at Festival - stock photo

Manila, Philippines – April 22, 2017: Filipino dancers from the Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo City, Philippines. This religious and cultural festival is held every fourth Sunday of January, or right after the Sinulog in Cebu and the Ati-Atihan Festival in Kalibo, Aklan, which is widely celebrated not only in Panay Island but also in other parts of the country. It is held both to honor the Santo Niño and to celebrate the arrival on Panay of Malay settlers and the subsequent selling of the island to them by the Atis. The main part of the festival which is the Ati Tribe competition consists of a number of "warrior" dancers in a tribe dancing in a choreographed formation and patterns as well as chanting to the sound of loud drum beats and improvised percussion instruments innovated by the respective tribes.