Abstract:

"Panaad," in the Akanon language of the Philippines, means a religious promise that has to be fulfilled as long as humanly possible. By transforming themselves into extraordinary beings and willing their dance performances as acts of prayer, participants during the annual Ati-atihan festival of Kalibo, Philippines believe the Santo Nino, the Holy Child Jesus, will continue to descend into their lives not only to reward them with blessing but also to imbue them with a sense of His presence on the ground.