By ERWIN MASCARINAS
EVERY year thousands of Catholic devotees and tourists from all walks of life visit the town of Cabadbaran to light a candle in honor of Nuestra Señora de Candelaria (Our Lady of Candles).
A day before the feast, a procession of the image of Mary holding the child Jesus is marched through the city streets together with thousands of believers, each holding a candle, dancing and chanting “Viva Nuestra Señora de Candelaria.”
Locals call the tradition “Dagkot” which means “to light a candle in prayer.” People believe that to light a candle in prayer or in honor of the Virgin Mary during the feast of Candelaria would bring good luck and more blessings.
Devotees from nearby towns and villages brave the heat and rain just to say their prayers in front of their lighted candles hoping their request would be granted.
While others burn their candles to the ground, others have them blessed with the Holy Water and bring them home. They believe having the blessed candles in their homes provide them with protection and bring them blessings.
This year, local church leaders and public officials asked devotees to make a special prayer: that Cabadbaran become a city.
If that is granted, Cabadbaran city would become “The city of Dagkot Festival.”
