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Uling (coal) is still the preferred cooking fuel in many Filipino households, especially for favorite dishes such as broiled meats and seafood's (ihaw-ihaw) the succulent lechon (roast pig) and cakes such as bibingka and puto on coals using natives stoves, accounts for the tangy flavor of Filipino food. "Uling" is also an important element in one of the most distinctive of Filipino festivals: the Ati-Atihan fiesta of Aklan. In the Ati-Atihan (literally) means "to make like Atis"- referring to the early inhabitants of Aklan), revelers cover their skin with sot from coal and don headdresses to cap the Ati costume, an intricate patchwork of coconut shells, feathers and fronds. The revelers then converge on the main roads and around the town plaza where they shout "Hala Bira!" (Go on and fight), stomp their spears, and dance a simple two-step number.

Suggestions:

Theme Party:
* Ihaw-Ihaw or Barbecue party
* Ati-Atihan (The Ati-Atihan can likewise be part of a Barrio Fiesta or any other theme party that features lively entertainment)

Venues:
* Coconut Palace Poolside
* Nayong Pilipino
* Selected hotels and resorts can stage an Ati-Atihan party in their gardens or by the pool.

Entertainment:
* Ati-Atihan Band

Gifts:
* Papier - mache masks