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Writer's pictureMenchie Kinao

“Panag-apoy, not a festival” - Sagada Mayor Pooten

Updated: Nov 2, 2021


Sagada, Mountain Province – “Panag-apoy,” a unique practice in observance of All Saints Day where people of Sagada light together the ‘saleng’ (pine twig) at the cemetery as a way of remembering their dead loved ones, is not a festival but a solemn moment to pay respect to the dead.


Mayor James Pooten, in an interview, told this to the Philippine News Agency, saying that the practice has also drawn tourists in the area over the years.


The mayor explained that ‘Panag-apoy’ which translates to the lighting of fire is similar to others’ practice where they light a candle, "but in our case, we light a pine twig which emits the smell of a pine tree resin and it produces a bigger fire compared to a candle."

Accordingly, "saleng" used to be the community's source of light in the olden times due to the absence of electricity, and is still being practiced up to this day by residents as an alternative to candles.


The lighting of ‘saleng’ is done before sundown.

No ‘Panag-apoy’ this November 1, 2021


There will be no ‘Panag-apoy’ this November 1 as the Municipal Inter-Agency Task Force (MIATF) closed all cemeteries from October 29 to November 3 except for burial activities that might occur during such time.


This is in accordance with the order of national IATF prohibiting such activity to prevent the further spread of the deadly virus.

"We will not have the usual observance of November 1 where residents light a "saleng" (pine twig) together at the cemetery in the afternoon. We will not see 'saleng' lighted beside the tombs of the loved ones because there will be nobody at the cemetery on November 1,” Pooten stated.


The community may visit their dead loved ones from November 3 onwards.



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