Sagada’s ‘Panag-aapoy’ lights up a hill to honor the dead

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — I was at the early stages of graduate school thesis work at the University of the Philippines Baguio in 2007 when I was told by photographer Tommy Hafalla that the ritual “Begnas” of Sagada town in Mountain Province was to be held in the days leading up to All Saints’ Day.