This year, participants in Cebu City’s annual Kalag-kalag festival wore name tags, marking a first in the centuries-old tradition. The practice, introduced to help the living recognize the souls of the dead during the event, reflects a growing emphasis on personal identification in local customs.
Traditionally, Kalag-kalag involves families visiting cemeteries to honor the deceased, often through offerings and prayers. This year, organizers encouraged attendees to wear name tags to ensure the spirits could identify the living. The initiative was part of a broader effort to modernize the event while preserving its spiritual significance.
Kalag-kalag, a unique Filipino tradition, is rooted in the belief that the souls of the departed return to the world during specific times of the year. The introduction of name tags is seen as a way to bridge the gap between the living and the dead, making the ritual more personal and meaningful. While some traditionalists expressed concerns about the change, others welcomed the innovation as a way to keep the practice relevant in a modern context.
