ATANG

(Food Offering)
By: REGION III Group
 TOPICS FOR TODAY
01 WHAT?

02 WHEN?

03 WHERE?

04 WHO?

05 WHY?

06 HOW?
WHAT?
• It is a tradition of Ilocanos
known as a food offering in
the Philippines that is an
indigenous ritual for the
dead or to ward off
sickness.
• They believe that there are
spirits who live among us that
are dead or in other realms that
don’t see by our naked eyes, and
they are the ones who need to
be appeased whenever they are
disturbed or offended.
WHAT?
• The atang ritual has
significant implications in
the faith of the Ilocano
Catholics in terms of the
importance of
remembering the dead as
a way to elaborate the
doctrine of the
communion of Saints.
WHEN?

• During "Undas" or All

Saints’ Day, families
flock to the
cemeteries. They
offer food for their
dearly departed, clean
their tombs, and light
candles.
 WHEN?
•The most common ritual practice among Filipinos is in the form of atang
(food offering) such as the following: 

before, during illness acquired

and after the through
wake of the death unknown through one’s
departed anniversary phenomena dream—
referred to a
bad omen
 WHERE?

• Atang is a Northern Philippine • People who acquired illness for

indigenous ritual for the dead. unknown reasons do their food
The atang ritual is believed to be offerings in the place they
a part of the Ilocano people's believe where they acquired the
cultural and religious backgrounds. illness.
WHO?
• The atang ritual has
significant implications in the
faith of the Ilocano Catholics
in terms of the importance
of remembering the dead as
a way to elaborate the
doctrine of the communion
of Saints. 
• The ones who prepare these
are the women relatives of
the deceased only, with the
help of female neighbors.
 WHY?

• The atang provided a material and immaterial process

of interaction between tangible people and intangible
souls.

• Atang is prepared as a welcome gesture to the dead.

It is believed in some parts of Central Luzon that the
souls of the dead come back for nine days after leaving
the world.

• People, especially Ilokanos believe that doing food

offerings helps the healing of a sick person.
 HOW?
• Atang is usually performed on Pista ti Natay / Undas or
their death anniversary. Most of the food is made of native
glutinous rice flour which is used to prepare sweet delicacies
such as suman, dudul, linapet (sticky rice cake), inkiwar
(sticky rice with coconut milk). Once prepared, these
delicacies are arranged on the deceased’s bed which is usually
brought to the living room of the house.

• These offerings are placed in front of a photo of the

departed and/or image of Jesus, Mary, or the Holy Family
during wakes and anniversaries in homes or in front of the
graves, after which the family and/or mourners of the
deceased may also offer prayers.
ARGUEZA, JOHN RYAN
BENITEZ, MARK STEVE
BUCAG, CHER KATHLEEN
CALLEJO, REA MICHOULE
CAWAGAS, RISSA JANE
CELEBRADOS, ALIA CHELSEA
GELOSO, ELISHA AMMIELE
HOMBRE, GEORGE MARRIONE
LETRAN, CHELSEY IENNE
ORTIZ, KURT
NULOD, JAN DHALE
ULBATA, CHRISHALYN FLORENCE

GROUP OF REGION III