SAGADA, Mountain Province — The local government of Sagada said that this year’s observance of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days, or Undas, remained peaceful and orderly despite an influx of visitors to the town’s cemeteries and tourist destinations.
Local officials estimated that more than 3,000 residents and at least 2,000 tourists participated in the two-day observance, which coincided with peak travel days for visitors seeking to experience Sagada’s cool climate and cultural traditions.
Edever G. Alicda, chief operations officer for “Undas Sagada” under the Bureau of Fire Protection-Cordillera Administrative Region (BFP-CAR), said the operations “generally went according to plan,” with personnel deployed across major roads, cemeteries, and tourist sites.
“We had to assist vehicles that got stuck in mud, especially near parking areas, but these were resolved immediately. The BFP worked with the police and traffic enforcers to manage road flow and ensure safety,” Mr. Alicda told BusinessWorld on Sunday.
He added that overall crowd movement remained smooth and that most incidents involved only minor logistical challenges due to intermittent rain and heavy foot traffic.
Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Eddie A. Dapliyam said several temporary closures were implemented in some tourist areas due to safety concerns.
Mr. Dapliyam said that Sumaguing Cave, one of Sagada’s main tourist attractions, was temporarily closed on Saturday afternoon due to the rising water level that posed risks to visitors. It was reopened within the hour once conditions were considered safe, he added, noting that some tours within the central barangays were also suspended to prevent congestion.
Despite the weather, many visitors still flocked to Sagada’s popular sites such as Echo Valley, Kiltepan Viewpoint, and the Hanging Coffins trail. Local accommodations reported high occupancy rates throughout the Undas week, said the Sagada’s tourist information office.
The solemn highlight of the observance was the lighting of pinewood torches at the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin Cemetery on Saturday evening — a key part of Sagada’s Panag-apoy (lighting of fires) cemetery festival.
The Panag-apoy, an integral part of Sagada’s cultural identity, continues to draw both locals and tourists who seek to witness the town’s distinctive way of commemorating the dead, held at dusk on All Saints’ Day.
Sagada Mayor Felicito O. Dula, along with members of the Sangguniang Bayan and barangay officials from Dagdag, Demang, and Patay, monitored the event’s implementation.
“All plans and designations were finalized three days before November 1. The LGU, volunteers, and emergency units coordinated closely to maintain order and safety,” said community volunteer Raffy Manalo, who assisted in crowd management during the observance.
Mr. Manalo added that no major incidents or medical emergencies were recorded throughout the event, noting that visitors largely followed cemetery protocols and crowd instructions.
Unlike last year, when the local government limited public access due to safety measures, this year’s observance was opened to tourists under stricter crowd control and traffic rules.
“It’s good that everyone followed the instructions. There were no problems with the flow of people,” Mr. Manalo said.
The Sagada’s local government deployed personnel from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, BFP, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Rural Health Unit, and barangay volunteers. — Erika Mae P. Sinaking
