Storya: Undas sa Pinas

Every year, It is in our tradition to celebrate Halloween when the month of November is about to come. We know it is Halloween when we see spooky designs in the malls, left and right horror booth's come to life, scary movies on the theatre, tv series featuring haunted houses/ people, different halloween parties are going on and "scary" Facebook profile pictures are trending. November is just not all about Halloween, it is also about remembering our loved ones who have passed away.

CONFUSION

November (1)one happens to be All Saints Day while November (2)two is All Souls Day. Some of us Filipino's (and others too) fail to remember which is which. 

But how come we visit our deceased relatives in the cemetery on Nov. 1. Obviously, both "Saint" and "Soul" are two peculiar words. A Saint (n.)- any of certain persons of exceptional holiness of life, formally recognized as such by the Christian Church, especially by canonization (Dictionary.com). A Soul (n.)- the spirit or immaterial part of man, the seat of human personality, intellect, will, and emotions, regarded as an entity that survives the body after death (Dictionary.com). Probably it's because we don't want to hassle ourselves and choose to visit earlier "riiiiiiiiiiiiiiighhhttttt??" That's us and nobody should care but we should always put in mind the importance of this holiday. 

THE CULTURE

 In the Filipino culture, there's more to celebrate than just partying or editing pictures to appear scary. 

1. Du-aw (Visiting)

This is the time when we need to take a break from our busy life and now visit our beloved loved ones who have already departed. Some of us even travel to far away provinces just so they could light a candle and pray over their family members who have already gone to their rest. We clean their tombs or ask somebody else to do it. We also put flowers, sweep, repaint the tombs or the mausoleums and then light candles. Sometimes, when lunch and dinner comes, we take the time to eat with them. Make them feel that we have not forgotten them. We haven't. 

2. Halad (Offering)

Usually here in our house, we prepare a table with food. It's a very special table because we serve the favorites of our relatives who are already gone. Viands, delicacies, milk, water, flowers, and sometimes cigarette. Even if they cannot eat it literally, at least would appreciate that we have also not forgotten them and so want them to be happy as well. Other houses would close their doors and even cover open spaces with paper or whatever they could to protect them from bad spirits. As for us, our doors and windows are wide open to welcome their souls. We would even light candles and put them outside of our doors to be used as a guide. They cannot see when it's dark they said, that is why our lights are also lighten up. 

3. Instant Vacation

Students and workers are also most happy during this holiday because we get to take a break from our busy lives as students. Some of us would travel to far away places. Some would even travel outside of the country! As for me and my family, this year, we went to one of our relatives' hometown, in Alcoy. Not all can afford to travel that is why our beaches and resorts are always full. We have even tried going to the beach during this kind of holiday. 

If we don't have a single peso to spend, Facebook users are always online, bloggers in Tumblr is always reblogging and the many things we can do with our computers are always online. 

          WE SHOULD ALWAYS REMEMBER OUR LOVED ONES. WE SHOULD PRAY FOR THEIR SOULS; THAT MAY GOD SAVE THEM AND ACCEPT THEM IN HEAVEN WHEREIN THEY WOULD LIVE WITH HIM. THEY ARE ONLY AMONGST US THAT IS WHY WE SHOULD JUST NOT VISIT THEM ON ALL SOULS DAY BUT ALSO IN ANYTIME WE CAN.