FROM THE CSMV BULLETIN
RULES OF CONDUCT ON ALL SAINTS’ DAY (NOVEMBER 1 & NOVEMBER 2)
I. RATIONALE.
The Cemetery is under the stewardship of the Church of St. Mary the Virgin under the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Philippines. It is the policy of the Church that the cemetery shall be for use by the members and parishioners of the Church and its nearby mission stations of Demang and Ambasing. The Church envisions the cemetery as a sanctuary for the living and the dead.
November 1 is All Saints Day. It is a day in the Christian calendar observed with solemnity when relatives and families attend church service around 3 o’clock in the afternoon. Burning of ‘sa-eng’ (fatwood) and candles by the graves of the departed at the cemetery follows around 4 o’clock to 7 o’clock pm of November 1.
Called ‘panag-aapoy’ or ‘panagdedenet’, this community practice is a time for families and relatives to commune with spirits of departed members of their families. A time to bring families closer, ask guidance of the departed and God Most High that the living be always in good health and dwell in Him. With the conduct of the ‘Panag-aapoy’ and with the desire of every family to enjoy solemnity while in commune with the spirits of their departed, the following rules was formulated by the Social Concerns Committee and approved by the Vestry of the Church of St. Mary the Virgin and enjoins all concerned to follow on All Saints’ Day.
II. RULES OF CONDUCT.
a. Echo trail at the Cemetery/Calvary Hill/Echo Valley/Underground is suspended on November 1 from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. of November 2. Group tours during the time of ‘panagdedenet’ or ‘panag-aapoy’ after the 3:00 p.m. Church service on November 1 is prohibited
b. Drinking, gambling and jamming at the Cemetery are prohibited from 6:00 a.m. of November 1 to 6:00 a.m. of November 2.
c. Vehicles are not allowed to enter the cemetery on November 1 starting from the road below the Rectory. Parking is open at the left side of the Church (upon entry), at the softball ground and Tangeb. Parking at the frontage of the Church is not allowed. In parking, please see to it that you do not obstruct the pathway intended for pedestrians.
d. Vehicles entering the Mission Compound are advised to use the road at the left side of the Church and are advised not to blow their horn while inside the Compound. Please avoid using the right side (pathway) of the Church since this is for pedestrian’s use only.
CSMV welcomes those who are coming home for the “panagdenet”. As a rule –
- a. The burning of fatwood or candles shall be done only after the “Vigilia and Necrology” at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin. It shall be done at the same time after a short prayer at the Cemetery altar. After the short prayer, each shall get their source of light from the lighted candles of the acolytes.
- b. As much as possible, please minimize the use of fatwood or “sa-eng”. Instead, we can use firewood with less “sa-eng”. This is to minimize the emission of black smoke in the vicinity as well as in the ozone layer.
Thank you.