Every year, before evening falls on the 1st day of November, the folks in Sagada would troop to the community cemetery and light little bonfires beside the graves of the departed. This unique tradition has been going on for decades. A mass is first held in the afternoon at the nearby Anglican Church. After a blessing by the local priest, the lighting of the fires commences.
Also referred to as "panagdedenet", the tradition is also practiced by people in other towns in Mt. Province like Besao, Bauko, and Sabangan. Folks would go to the cemetery 1 or 2 days before All Saints Day to cut the overgrown weeds and brush around the graves. This leaves enough time for the weeds/brush to dry out. When November 1 comes, the weeds/brush are dry enough to burn for a little bonfire.
The origin of the tradition is not crystal clear. However, it's most likely that it emerged from about the time the local populations started coverting to the Christian faith. The dominant Christian group in Mt. Province is the Anglican Church. They gained foothold in the hills and mountains of the north when they were able to dispatch Anglican missionaries right after the arrival of the Americans.
Lighting candles in graves during All Saints Day was introduced to the newly-converted Igorots. One theory is that there wasn't enough candles to light during these occasions. Resourceful as always, the Igorots used wood and dry brush as alternative. Keep in mind that the Americans took over the Philippines in 1898 after a short-lived but brutal war with Spain. Resources were scarce. Candles were either unavailable or expensive.
Another factor in the development of the practice is that community cemeteries in Mt. Province are usually situated in wooded hills or mountain slopes that has an abundance of wood and brush. Instead of using candles that were either scarce or expensive during the early decades of the 20th century, the locals used the wood, saleng, and brush that were readily available.
The practice of lighting little bonfires on All Saints Day was soon established and cemented into the local culture.
