Sponsored youth James plays drums in a festival parade.
Colorful costumes are a big part of the Ati-Atihan Festival.
By Loretta Shea Kline, managing editor, Unbound
One of the beautiful aspects of the relationships built through sponsoring a child or elderly friend is learning about the vibrancy and richness of other cultures.
Sponsored friends often write to their sponsors about celebrating cultural events or holidays in their countries.
One such event recently took place in the Philippines. The Ati-Atihan Festival features parades known for their lively tribal dances, colorful indigenous costumes and sounds of drums and lyres (small harp-like instruments).