Antique Launches ‘Kalag-Kalag 2023′ as New Attraction for All Saints’ Day

Antique Province — The Antique Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office (APTCAO) has introduced a new attraction featuring mythological characters to enhance the All Saints’ Day (“Undas”) experience for residents of Antique.

According to a new release by the Philippines News Agency, the ‘Kalag-Kalag 2023’ event was launched on October 24 and will run until November 4. The event aims to create a scarier ambiance at nighttime by featuring mythological creatures such as witches, ‘tikbalang’ (a creature with the head of a horse and body of a man), and ‘sigbin,’ a creature that resembles a kangaroo or a deer and is traditionally believed to lurk among trees and nature in Antique.

Niki de los Reyes Torres, the APTCAO special projects coordinator, mentioned that the event also features a replica of the facade of the century-old cemetery of Tobias Fornier town. The cemetery is notable for its odd inscription ‘Kami Karon, Kamo Dason’ in the local Kinaray-a dialect, which implies that “their time has come, and you will be next.” Torres stated that the graveyard has gained attention because of this unique inscription that is rarely found in other cemeteries.

APTCAO Officer Juan Carlos Perlas announced that a costume parade and contest, along with a ‘Trick or Treat’ event, will be held at the New Capitol Grounds on October 27. The costume parade and contest will feature two age categories: one for children aged two to 12 and another for those 13 and above.

Perlas said that the event aims to bring joy and excitement to both children and adults. He also mentioned that Governor Rhodora Cadiao has recommended that prizes this year be awarded for best fantasy costumes, a departure from previous years where cash prizes were given to winners of best in horror get-up.