By Minerva Newman, Lesley Vestil and Tara Yap Most of the Visayas is gearing up for major festivals this month that are expected to draw throngs of visitors and bring in a bounty of goodwill and revenue for their hosts. The Sto. Niño is the centerpiece of a dozen or so fiestas that will be celebrated around the country this Sunday, but nowhere has the celebration been transformed into a major cultural extravaganza than in Cebu City and the town of Kalibo in Aklan. Cebu will mark Sinulog, and Kalibo the Ati-Atihan, both drawing fervor and inspiration from the Child Jesus. Next Sunday, it will be Iloilo City’s to showcase the Dinagyang. As usual, Cebu is sparing nothing to make this year’s Sinulog more memorable for the hundreds of thousands of revelers it is expecting. Aside from the big parade on Sunday, the fireworks display will be more spectacular this year, organizers promised. Initially, the Sinulog Foundation decided not to have the fireworks show at the finale, but Mayor Tomas Osmena said many people were clamoring for it. “OK, many people have been texting me asking whether there are fireworks during the Sinulog Finale in Abellana, so fireworks it is” Osmena said in his Facebook post. Dave Tumulak, Cebu City councilor and Sinulog executive committee chairperson, said the pyrotechnics this year is more expensive and more grand than last year’s. The highlight of the festival, however, is still the parade. Sinulog Foundation Director Ricky Ballesteros said there are only five out-of-town contingents that will be joining this year -- from North Cotabato, Catbalogan Samar, Panglao Bohol, Abuyog Leyte and DaanBantayan, Cebu. Perennial winner Tangub City is not joining the contest but will perform during the Sinulog grand finale, Ballesteros said. For security reasons, parties within 300 meters of the parade route will not be allowed. Police Regional Office Regional Director Jose Mario Espino also warned revelers against taking party drugs. In Kalibo, the Ati-Atihan will feature the sadsad (dance procession), where costumed revelers mimic the dance of native Atis (Aetas) as they wind their way around Kalibo. Supt. Gilbert Gorero, spokesman of Police Regional Office (PRO), said 1,418 police personnel have been deployed for the Ati-Atihan. The Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) also assigned 200 soldiers to guard the festivities. Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Western Visayas has assured that major roads leading to the Dinagyang and Ati-Atihan festival sites are in good condition. DPWH Regional Director Wenceslao Leaño Jr. has instructed the district engineers in these areas to make sure the roads are cleared of obstructions for the weeklong celebration in Iloilo. City District Engineer Rodney Gustilo said engineering crews have been busy repainting roads, installing signages and repairing street drains along the parade route. Kalibo District Engineer Noel Fuentebella on the other hand said they have fixed major roads in Kalibo by paving over potholes, sealing cracks and de-clogging canals along national roads. Fuentebella said lights have been installed on roads serving as major thoroughfares to the Kalibo International Airport. Iloilo and Kalibo are expecting thousands of foreign and domestic tourists to attend the festivals.