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Local Sagadans burn pine wood instead of candle to commemorate their dead loved ones on November 1. |
November 1 is called the “All Saints Day” and Novemer 2 as the “All Souls
Day”. We often commemorate our dead loved ones on November 1. We bring candles,
lit them up and pray for them. Some people even bring food (the dead one’s
favorite when he/she was still living) as their “atang” (offering). In other
parts of the country, some even rejoice, bring their whole family to gather,
eat food over the grave, and sing. But it’s a different event when you visit
Sagada for this important day.
Interview. (You can turn on HD.)
Nothing Beats Plain
Nature Adventure: Sagada
I would have posted this article sometime last year in November, but I
don’t have much time to start my Sagada articles as I still have to finish
bunch of articles relating to Subic, Baguio, Manila and even Cebu. Came 2013
when I started Sagada posts, and here we are at my Sagada ender post. This is
an untimely post about their celebration of All Saints Day, but it’s still a
worthy post that you have to know.
Even big media networks came to Sagada in this particular occasion. Marked
2011 and the reporters of CNN came to cover such. Last year, TV5 came to
interview people and gather information about Sagada’s All Saint’s Day. I and
my friend have also worked with a reporter from Philippine Daily Inquirer to
collect information and we were lucky to interview one of the old people who know
more than what actually the event was. I included here a short clip of the
interview.
If it was common to light a candle over the grave, in Sagada, they burn
woods of pine trees. It was a very old tradition, dating back to the time
before the Americans came. During the old times, early Sagadans use pine woods
to create a torch, burn it and it will serve as their beacon in getting to the
deepest of the caves in Sagada, where the early graveyards were. It was the
Americans’ idea of putting up a centralized cemetery in Sagada, but to the
extent that they still did not use candles as part of the ceremonies. Early
Sagadans were pagans (or people who believe that gods exist everywhere like the
rocks or the caves) as told by Christian, a local Sagadan. Secondly, pine trees were the most available
material during that time and until these days.
The burnt wood of pine trees smell like incense, according to tourists who
even came from Manila to witness such. We interviewed them about their
insights, and they told us that Sagada’s celebration is very unique and cannot
be found elsewhere. They were just supposed to do the caving and nothing else,
but when they knew about the unique ceremonies of the people on November 1,
they came to see it.
The priest on his way |
The burning of pine woods creates thick black smoke that is unsuitable to
people who have asthma. Individual sessions of burning woods start as soon as
the priest starts blessing the graves. This particular ceremony, unlike in
other parts of the Philippines where people can start anytime (or even before
November 1), only happens from 5 PM until the night. If you’re planning to see
such, be there before 5 PM. Anyway, seeing a glimpse of it is already enough,
because I do not recommend first timers, especially those who have allergies to
smoke and asthma, to stay long. We did not stay long in the cemetery. We want
back to church right after.
Foreign tourists were also amazed how Sagadans celebrate this particular
day. Some of them whom we interviewed were atheists, or people who do not
believe in God or there is one God. Some others came all the way from Oregon,
USA and were satisfied to witness such.
Came 7 PM and we went back to Christian’s home. I ate their home-cooked
etag and it was tasty. Christian told me that November 1 and 2 were like
December 24 and 25 in Sagada, because this is the most important gathering date
of the people there. They cook etag and kakanin, which were only made and
served during these days. Some of the Sagadans work in Baguio City and go home
during these days. Christian also said that more locals who work in Baguio
prefer to go home on November 1 or 2 rather than go home for Christmas.
This was the last part of my very own itinerary in Sagada. I woke up as
early as 4 AM in the morning for the 5 AM bus bound to Baguio. These dates
(October 30 – November 3) were one of the peak seasons in Sagada, other than
the Holy Week. I was lucky to ride the 5 AM bus because tourists were lining up
(and it was very long) just to ride a bus going back to Baguio City.
Sagada is one of my most meaningful trips
because I learned a lot of their culture and history. And I appreciate it. I
hope you do to if you visit Sagada sometime too.
Part 27: A Visit to the Old Village of Sagada: Home Weaving and Etag
Part 28: Lemony Lunch @ Lemon Pie House in Sagada
Part 29: When They Call It Halo-Halo in Sagada
Part 30: Sagada All Saints Day: Burnt Pine Woods and Thick Black Smoke.
Travex Travels GUIDE: Three-Day Sagada Itinerary and List of Expenses
Nothing Beats Plain
Nature Adventure: Sagada Travel Series (20 - 30):
Part 20: Tourism Employs Local Sagadans
Part 22: A Night in Sagada Pine Cafe
Part 25: Of Begnas and Sagada Culture
Part 26: A Quick Breakfast Inside Dalikan Restaurant, SagadaPart 27: A Visit to the Old Village of Sagada: Home Weaving and Etag
Part 28: Lemony Lunch @ Lemon Pie House in Sagada
Part 29: When They Call It Halo-Halo in Sagada
Part 30: Sagada All Saints Day: Burnt Pine Woods and Thick Black Smoke.
Travex Travels GUIDE: Three-Day Sagada Itinerary and List of Expenses
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