Visiting The Dead: All Saint’s Day in the Philippines Part 2

November 3, 2007

    All Saint's Day in the Philippines has a festive atmosphere nowadays. We would see people going to and fro, carrying flowers, candles, plastic chairs, big bags of chips and bottles of soft drinks. Some people even bring their portable radio, guitar, and even alcoholic drinks inside! Rarely can we see families praying for the dead; at present, they are looking forward to see relatives on the cemetery, entertaining them as if they are in the comforts of their own homes. Although that scenario is disheartening, it is important to note that the Church is doing its best to revive the real reason on why we visit our dead. Catholic groups, such as the Legion of Mary in our case, are doing rounds of walking around the cemeteries, offering prayers for the departed. I should know, since I'm a Legionary myself (modesty aside).

   Parents, if you have unruly children, think twice before bringing them to the cemetery. They might get lost from the crowd. Literally, you'll be able to reach your destination by  just standing on the way. Weeel, there's a tendency that your kids would get bored there (children with ADHD are exempted). Don't worry though. Aside from the seemingly endless flow of food and drink (from mom's bag or from the vendors outside the cemetery) that you could offer your kids as bribe for them to behave, they could indulge themselves to making figures out of candle wax! Even adults do it for fun. Start 'em young, so they would get better at it year by year. This year, I have discovered techniques on how to make the perfect pear from candle wax, my masterpiece only to be taken away from me by my six-year old niece *sob*. Next year, I'm planning to create something new. I'm really tempted to make a p*nis model, but my mom would surely be outraged.

     Actually, it has been argued that we should pay our dearly departed a visit during November 2 (All Soul's Day), instead of November 1. However, I don't think that it would work out. It's like changing our biological clocks to sleep at day instead of at night. Besides, a day's difference isn't really a big deal. What matters most is that act of remembering our relatives who have passed on. When our own time comes, isn't it sweet that someone, even for a day, would visit us on our graves, reminisce what memories we have left with them, and at the same time, being a reason for the family to come together?