CEBU, Philippines — (UPDATED 11:15 a.m. Thursday, Nov.2) Live updates of the Kalag-Kalag or Undas 2023 season — All Saints Day and All Souls Day on November 1 and 2.
Mandaue public cemetery on Nov. 2
Carreta Cemetery on Nov 2
What is All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day?
Why do we celebrate the Kalag-Kalag or Undas on Nov. 1 and 2 or on All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day respectively?
The All Saints’ Day and the All Souls’ Day are celebrated separately in the sense that the saints, who have not been recognized here on earth but have been believed to enter heaven, are the focus of the celebration on November 1 while all the souls especially in purgatory are the focus of the celebration on November 2. That is the definition in the Catholic context.
Cebu City cemeteries: Thousands visit, despite sweltering heat
Hot and humid weather prevailed all throughout Wednesday, November 1.
But this did not stop people from visiting cemeteries to pay their respect to their deceased loved ones in observance of All Saints Day.
Close to 30,000 individuals flocked to various cemeteries in Cebu City for All Saints Day on Wednesday.
Except for the ‘sweltering heat’, authorities said Wednesday’s Kalag Kalag ‘was generally peaceful and orderly’.
Kalag-Kalag in Cebu City ‘peaceful and orderly,’ authorities see fewer visitors on first day
Residents visited their departed loved ones on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, in observance of the All Saints’ Day. | Photo by Niña Mae Oliverio
Despite the significant number of individuals, who flocked to cemeteries to visit their departed loved ones for All Saints’ Day on Wednesday, November 1, the situation has been generally peaceful and orderly in Cebu City.
Since early morning on Wednesday, people have began gathering at the various cemeteries located in the city aiming to show their respects to their loved ones for the Kalag-Kalag.
The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) described the observance of All Saints’ Day this year as general peaceful and orderly.
On Wednesday morning. Police Colonel Ireneo Dalogdog lead the ocular inspections at some of the cemeteries in the city to make sure that police personnel deployed at each areas are prepared to respond to any situations and to maintain the peace and order.
Kalag-Kalag panata: A young man’s promise to his departed loved ones
Jonathan Dupio, a resident of Consolacion, a town in northern Cebu, works tirelessly to support his family, just as he was raised with love and care by his parents. For him, Kalag-Kalag is more than just a tradition; it’s a heartfelt tribute to the family that has shaped him into the person he is today.
“Sa unang panahon akong papa gasakripisyo gyud namo ug amo lang ibalik niya ang sakripisyo sad,” he said.
(In the past, my father would sacrifice for us and what we are doing is giving back our sacrifice to him.)
Dupio, works as a production worker, a job that demands much of his time and energy. However, his devotion to his family and the values instilled in him by his parents inspires him to go the extra mile during Kalag-Kalag.
Kalag-Kalag, All Saints’ Day, All Souls’ Day: Why we celebrate this season
Why do we celebrate the Kalag-Kalag or Undas on Nov. 1 and 2 or on All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day respectively?
The All Saints’ Day and the All Souls’ Day are celebrated separately in the sense that the saints, who have not been recognized here on earth but have been believed to enter heaven, are the focus of the celebration on November 1 while all the souls especially in purgatory are the focus of the celebration on November 2. That is the definition in the Catholic context.
Kalag-Kalag traffic ‘is manageable’ on November 1 says traffic czar
The Kalag-Kalag traffic situation around 12 noon in Cebu City was manageable on Wednesday, November 1, the head of the city’s traffic office said.
Councilor Rey Gealon, head of the Traffic Management Committee (TMC) told CDN Digital on Wednesday, that, “So far, traffic is moving in and around the city.”
He added that it is “manageable” but advised the public to expect light to moderate traffic in areas near the roads leading to cemeteries.
Heat index in Cebu on November 1 falls under extreme caution category
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The heat index as of 12 noon on Wednesday, November 1, indicates scorching weather in Cebu City especially for those visiting the cemeteries during the day.
The heat index is 39 degrees Celsius, which falls under the ‘extreme caution’ category, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration-Mactan (Pagasa-Mactan).
Ana Dumdum, Pagasa-Mactan weather specialist of the Forecasting Section, told CDN Digital in a phone interview on Wednesday that there is a possibility that the figure would increase in the afternoon until 3 p.m.
Kalag-Kalag 2023: Do’s and Don’ts when visiting cemeteries
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Kalag-Kalag 2023 will be safer and orderly if you follow these simple Do’s and Don’ts as you head to your local cemeteries to visit your departed loved ones.
With the observation of the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day on November 1 and 2, respectively, people have begun to gather at the different cemeteries with their families.
On these occasions, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has issued reminders to the public on how to behave inside the cemeteries to ensure a peaceful Kalag-Kalag 2023.
READ: ‘Undas’ 2023: PNP dispatches over 27,000 cops; no info on road closures
Here are some Do’s and Don’ts for Kalag-Kalag 2023:
Tents up
Important reminder: Be mindful of your belongings
Calamba cemetery update
Working in cemeteries
Mao ba?
Entrance fee in Cambinocot?
The owner of a property that stood between a public cemetery and the road leading to its entrance was under fire for allegedly demanding entrance fees to visitors.
Relatives of the dead buried in a public cemetery in Barangay Cambinocot, an upland barangay here, complained that a private lot owner barred them from visiting their deceased loved ones during All Saints Day, November 1.
Some alleged that they had to pay between P50 and P100 as an ‘entrance fee’.
Orderly and peaceful so far
Loyal companion
Tight security in Pardo cemetery
Carreta cemetery updates
Portalets available in Mandaue cemeteries
Mandaue cemeteries
Kakanins, kalan-ons on Kalag-kalag
This Kalag-Kalag, CDN Digital takes you on a flavorful journey through one of Cebuano culture’s enduring traditions – the celebration of ‘kakanins’ or ‘kalan-ons.’ Come explore their ever-evolving popularity, a delectable link between Cebuano generations
Never forgotten
Jonathan Dopio, a resident of Consolacion town in northern Cebu, tells CDN Digital that he is wholeheartedly keeping his promise to his late father and other family members to make sure that their graves are cleaned every Kalag-Kalag/Undas season.
Situation at Consolacion
Reminders for Kalag-kalag
Pardo Cemetery
Carreta on Nov. 1
Cebu Catholic Church priest urges faithful to wear saintly attires not scary costumes
Fr. Glenn Guanzon, the head of the Commission on Worship in the Archdiocese of Cebu, expressed a similar viewpoint.
“Halloween is the holy celebration to remember the saints in heaven and all the dead. That’s why we have events like children or adults mimicking the saints so that we can remember them,” Guanzon told CDN Digital on Tuesday, October 31.
Guanzon said that the Catholic Church has long discouraged the use of horror themes during Undas or Kalag-Kalag, as these solemn occasions are meant to be reverent and should not be associated with such elements.
“Dili man gud na ungo-ungo gud (That is not about monsters or ghosts). It’s for the saints and the dead who are not yet saints, but our future saints,” Guanzon said.
Vendors urged not to overprice candles for Kalag-Kalag
In P. Lopez Street in Cebu City, the customers can buy candles in glass from P50 to P150, depending on their sizes, while ordinary candles cost P25 to P75 per pack. | CDN File Photo by Niña Mae Oliverio
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) here said on Tuesday, October 31, that they had a suggested retail price (SRP) of candles for the All Saints’ Day and All Souls Day on November 1 and 2.
Ines Cajegas, chief trade industry development specialist of the Consumer Protection Division of DTI Cebu Province, said they had SRP for the candles because it was part of the basic necessity and prime commodity category.
“As to the flowers, it is not considered as basic necessity, so we only monitor the prices of which but kung unreasonable pod ang (if the it would only be unreasonable) price, we can go after them sa (in)Consumer Acts of the Philippines na pod (also) for either deceptive or unfair sales act,” Cajegas said.
Among the kinds of candles that the DTI is monitoring according to Cajegas are the ‘Esperma white’ which usually contains 20 pieces per pack.
Kalag-Kalag Food: ‘Mga Kalan-on sa Kagahapon,’ a Delectable Link Between Cebuano Generations this ‘Kalag-Kalag’
For this year’s “Kalag-Kalag,” CDN Digital transports you to one of the enduring customs of Cebuano culture as we delve into the celebration of ‘kakanins’ or ‘kalan-ons’ and explore their evolving popularity with the passing of the seasons.
For Cebuanos, ‘kakanin’ or ‘kalan-onon’ goes back to pre-colonial times. Miss. Louella Eslao–Alix, writer, and Cebuana food historian shares with CDN Digital her vast knowledge of how our most loved delicacies were discovered and how they survived through the years.
“We go back to pre-colonial times sa katong wa pa ta aria sa foreigners, we get this to the account of Pigafetta (Antonio) there was this ceremony that he wrote about that there were ‘babaylans’ the old ladies that were performing before starting the ceremony. They placed baskets of millet wrapped in banana leaves, ‘budbud‘ diba? and rice cakes as the bibingka,’ Alix shared.
Miss Alix said that Antonio Pigafetta, Ferdinand Magellan’s chronicler, pointed out in his journal the initial foods he encountered and consumed during his time in the Visayas, which included cereals like millet, sorghum, and panicum.
“We are a people who are used to offering kanang mga kalan-onon na made of what is available to us which is made of rice and millets or “kabog,” she then added.
ICMYI: This video was published on Nov. 1, 2021 at the time when Cebu and the country was starting to recover from the COVID-19.
Here Monsignor Joseph Tan, spokesperson of the Cebu Archdiocese, discusses the significance of the Kalag-Kalag in the church context. Aside from that, we also looked back and remembered, those who died during the pandemic, including some of our prominent Cebuano leaders.
Police ‘shifting gears’ to secure Kalag-Kalag after peaceful Barangay, SK elections
After the conduct of one of the ‘safest and most secured’ electoral processes in recent times on Monday, October 30, security forces are now shifting their focus on the coverage for the Kalag-Kalag.
During a press conference on Tuesday, October 31, Police Lieutenant Colonel Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office Central Visayas (PRO-7), said that this year’s election had been one of the safest and most secure in Central Visayas.
He said that there were only minor issues which did not cause an impact on the election. It can be recalled that there were two separate issues of harassment in Dumanjug and Argao which remained under investigation as of this writing.
After the election, Pelare said that they would now focus on the observation of the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day on November 1 and 2, respectively.
Kalag-Kalag: Flowers, mananabtan, Dakong Krus in Calamba Cemetery
As All Soul’s Day or the Kalag-Kalag draws near, people are preparing to visit the tombs of loved ones who have passed on to pray for their souls and to remember them when they were still with us.
Cemeteries are filled as the faithful mark and celebrate this day, a tradition that began in the 10th century to celebrate and pray for souls in purgatory.
On this day, Cebuanos celebrate the day by visiting the graves of their departed loved ones to remember them and pray for their souls.
These are some things to do and people to meet as you visit cemeteries and remember your loved ones, particularly in one of Cebu City’s biggest cemeteries – Calamba Cemetery. (click link above)
DOH: Spare young kids from infection, keep them off crowded cemeteries
The Department of Health has warned the public about bringing their children to crowded cemeteries because they might have a weak immune system and they might get infected with diseases. | Inquirer file photo
The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday advised the public to refrain from tagging along young children when they visit crowded cemeteries on All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day or “Undas” to keep them safe from injuries and diseases.
“I am advising parents and caregivers not to bring small children to cemeteries as overcrowding and intense heat and sudden unexpected downpour may cause diseases to small children,” Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said, noting that children have weaker resistance against infections.
Herbosa also warned that COVID-19 is still around and causes “sporadic cases and an increase in cases in some regions.”
Parking, drop-off areas for vehicles designated at Cebu City cemeteries
A scene captured last November 1, 2022 inside the Carreta Cemetery, one of the biggest cemeteries in Cebu. |CDN DIGITAL FILE PHOTO
The head of Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) is encouraging all motorists to abide by the traffic signs when visiting the cemeteries this coming All Souls Day and All Saints Day.
CCTO Head Raquel Arce made this announcement on Thursday, October 26, via the city’s public information’s (PIO) Facebook page.
Arce is urging the public to follow the “traffic signs” which the CCTO would place near the cemeteries in the city.
She said that should the public follow the slight changes of the traffic schemes, there would be a smooth flow of traffic on the way to the cemetery.
Lapida making: Engraving gravestones, a maker’s remarkable journey
Bryan Saga posed for a photo in his spot which used to be his father’s outside the Carreta Cemetery. | CDN File Photo by Niña Mae Oliverii
Seven years ago, Cebu Daily News interviewed a gravestone (lapida in Cebuano) maker named Alberto Saga, who is now in his 60s this year.
In a fortunate turn of events, the daily is able to meet and interview one of Saga’s children who is now a gravestone maker like him.
The 32-year-old Bryan Saga shared with CDN Digital that after finishing high school, he began following his father’s steps.
And now that Alberto could no longer do it because of his shaky hands, Bryan took over the business under his name.
His father is now working as a barangay tanod in Barangay Maguikay, Mandaue City.
Kalag-Kalag 2023: Flower, candle vendors prepare for influx of buyers
Candle and flower vendors here are preparing as they are expecting more customers in the days heading to All Souls Day and All Saints Day this year.
There are over 50 stalls that are set up in front of a university in P. Lopez Street in Cebu City from October 28 to November 1, and it is open for 24 hours.
Merlina Alcoseba, 52-year-old candle vendor, told CDN Digital on Sunday, October 29, that they would be expecting to have more buyers by October 31 and November 1.
Metro Cebu: Cloudy skies, passing rains during elections, Kalag-Kalag
It will be rainy weather during the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections and Undas or Kalag-Kalag in Metro Cebu due to the effect of the northeast monsoon (amihan) and a potential low pressure area in the coming weeks.
According to the latest weather forecast of Pagasa, the Visayas, including Cebu, will expect intermittent rainfall from October 30 to October 31, which also coincides with the the Barangay and SK Election.
The Visayas may also experience “cloudy weather with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms” during the Kalag-Kalag from November 1 to November 3.
Cebu City committee okays traffic plan for Kalag-Kalag, miting de avance
The Cebu City Traffic Management Committee (TMC) has approved a traffic management plan for Undas 2023 or Kalag-Kalag 2023 on Tuesday, October 24.
Cebu City Councilor Rey Gealon, TMC head, said that the committee made sure that there would be allotted parking spaces for every visitor who would pay to visit their loved ones in the cemeteries.
“Ato sad i-cordon ang mga area diin atong gi-designate ang mga parking spaces kay syempre kinahaglan man sila oras sad nga mustandby didto sa menteryo,” Gealon said in an interview with the reporters on Wednesday, October 25.
(We will also cordon the area where parking spaces are designated because, of course, they would need hours to standby there at the cemetery.)
Bus operators reminded of vehicles’ ‘roadworthiness’ for Kalag-Kalag 2023
The Land Transportation Office (LTO-7) and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB-7) in Central Visayas are gearing up for the upcoming Undas 2023 or Kalag-Kalag 2023 preparations.
According to LTO-7 Chief of Operations Division Aden Belza, LTO Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II issued a memorandum on September 26, 2023, for the ‘Oplan Biyaheng Ayos for Undas 2023.’
Belza said that Mendoza advised the transportation personnel to conduct the ‘oplan’ on those dates.
The activity is valid from October 16 to November 3.
The oplan has two phases. The first phase is done from October 16 to 26, while the second phase is from October 27 to November 3.
Cebu City Police Office to deploy 800 personnel for Kalag-Kalag 2023
The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) will be deploying around 800 police personnel to secure the observance of Kalag-Kalag 2023 right after the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections.
Police Lt. Col. Janette Rafter, CCPO deputy city director for operations, told reporters that in anticipation of the second big event after the elections on October 30, they were ready to deploy uniformed personnel in every area to ensure peace and order.
The Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections will be taking place on October 30.
Meanwhile, two other previously declared holidays, All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day on November 1 and 2, respectively, will also land after the election.
‘Undas’ 2023: PNP dispatches over 27,000 cops; no info on road closures
The Philippine National Police (PNP) will assign over 27,000 personnel nationwide to observe All Saints’ Day on November 1 and All Souls’ Day on November 2.
“Around 27,161 PNP personnel will be deployed for Undas,” PNP spokesperson and public information office chief Colonel Jean Fajardo told INQUIRER.net in a Viber message on Thursday.
“As to the road closure, no info yet,” she added.