Sagada ‘Panagdedenet’ bonds kin, town folks

By Gina Dizon

SAGADA. Mountain Province – Local folks here observed “Panagdedenet,” (family bonding with souls of the departed) Nov. 1 and reuniting family ties with lighting of candles and sa-eng (pitch wood) that warm graves of  those who have gone earlier.

    It is a belief among people here that souls of the departed are in the midst of them, guiding and protecting them
Panagdedenet also called “panag-aapoy,” had been done annually every evening of All Saints Day here at the cemetery of the Church of St Mary the Virgin. established by the Anglican American missionaries in the early 1900s.
    Panagdedenet started last week with necrological mass at SMV Church at 2 p.m. followed by blessing of candles and sa-eng at the cemetery. 
    Rev. Daniel Lomgatan told parishioners of CSMV and mission churches of St. Simon Peter in Demang and St. Columba in Ambasing to bring just enough sa-eng for the ceremony.
    Candles were not that aplenty before that sa-eng was used for lighting graveyards.
    The sa-eng along with candles were blessed in church during necrological mass.
    Graves were also blessed after the mass.
    Locals started leaving the cemetery around 5 p.m.
    Tourists and guides went to the cemetery after locals left.
    A few years ago, panag-aapoy was publicized in social media as “festival of lights” but was castigated by the community which said panagdedenet was not a festival nor a feast for tourists to visit.
    Locals said it was a solemn moment among families to  visit and warm the graves  and say prayers to their departed family members.