Sagada’s “panag-aapoy” resumes during Undas 2022

Sagada, Mt. Province – After getting a green light from the local government officials, Sagada folks will once again be observing “Panag-aapoy/Panagdedenet” (lighting of fire) on Tuesday, November 01, 2022, announced the state-controlled local media.

“Panag-aapoy/Panagdedenet” is a customary practice where Sagada and its neighboring town light small bonfires near the graves using “saleng/saeng” or pine twigs as a way of remembering their departed loved ones.

The practice was not observed in 2021 due to restrictions imposed by the Municipal Inter-Agency Task Force (MIATF), closing all cemeteries except for burial activities as part of the COVID-19 preventive measures.

As the practice was given the go signal, the public is reminded that “panag-aapoy” is not a festival but a solemn moment to pay respect and remember the dead.

Mayor Felicito Dula, in his interview with the Philippine News Agency, explained the practice is done in the afternoon of November 1 until the evening, or while people are at their relatives’ tombs.

Dula relayed that the locals are not happy with the presence of many tourists during the observance in the previous years. This is because the tourists disturb the solemnity of the event.

"It just so happened that the lighted pine twig produces a bigger fire than a candle and emits a pine sap scent that looks good in photographs and is different from the other areas of the country but it is a solemn observance to remember a loved one," the mayor reminded.

LISTEN TO STATION 1 RADIO: CLICK ME

OTHER NEWS 

Want to work in Europe? LBP Global soon to open opportunities

Follow Guru Press Cordillera  on Facebook for more News and Information