Tradition. Cebuanos have an age-old practice of "drenching" themselves in smoke from burning leaves as they leave the cemetery after a visit. This practice is called "palina." Old Cebuanos never fail to go through this ritual for whatever reason
According to him, majority of cemetery-goers won’t leave until they drench themselves in smoke from the “palina.” They believe the practice cleanses them of the bad essences as a result of their proximity to the dead, such as misfortune, disease or worst, death, he said.
But town officials clarified that they will continue to “tolerate” the practice of “palina” or burning grasses or leaves found inside their cemeteries located in Barangays Poblacion, Talaga and Colawin and using its smoke to drive away spirits.
