Remembering our Departed Loved Ones

Every 1^st to the 2^nd of November yearly, Filipinos would visit departed loved ones at various memorial parks and cemeteries. Customarily, the occasion is being observed nationwide by surviving family members taking with them flowers and candles as offering to their departed loved ones. 

Those with bigger family members visiting would have tents. The tents are to protect themselves from the bright sunlight at daytime. Likewise shield from possible rain as they vigil overnight.

Family members would bring food for them to partake during the visit. In some memorial parks, fast food operators would take advantage of business opportunity. They cater food to the family members who do not have time to prepare food. It is a family reunion to most Filipinos as they gather together at the resting place of their departed loved ones.

Most of us prefer to visit on the 1^st of November, being All Saints Day, some would visit the 2^nd being the All Souls Day. It is also acceptable if we visit early to avoid the traffic jam.  In my case, I prefer to visit my parents resting place before the 1^st of November.  Prior to the occasion, family members would clean up the tomb, freshen up with new coats of paints and make sure the epitaph on the head stone are readable.  For those who can afford to pay, they would hire someone to do the job.

Despite the influence of Western culture that is celebrating Halloween. Most of us Filipinos would spend for candles and flowers for our departed loved ones rather than spending for Halloween parties.  Due to some imposition from private offices and shopping malls some of us are hook up on preparing costumes for Halloween.  I have nothing against those who celebrate Halloween parties. But, to be honest I do not like to see grotesque figures of dead people, zombies and the like.   It is not that I am scared of them but for me it connotes negativism.

I am glad that majority of us, Filipinos do not really buy the idea of Halloween parties. Rather continue the cultural tradition of spending money and time in remembrance of our departed loved ones. This tradition has been handed down from generation to generation all over the Philippines. This occasion in addition to Christmas brings Filipinos together as a family

Remembering our Departed Loved Ones

Every 1^st to the 2^nd of November yearly, Filipinos would visit departed loved ones at various memorial parks and cemeteries. Customarily, the occasion is observed nationwide by surviving family members taking with them flowers and candles as offering to their departed loved ones. Those with bigger family members visiting would have tents. The tents are to protect themselves from the bright sunlight at daytime. Likewise shield from possible rain as they vigil overnight.

Family members would bring food for them to partake during the visit. In some memorial parks, fast food operators would take advantage of business opportunity. They cater food to the family members who do not have time to prepare food. It is a family reunion to most Filipinos as they gather together at the resting place of their departed loved ones.

Most of us prefer to visit on the 1^st of November, being All Saints Day, some would visit the 2^nd being the All Souls Day. It is also acceptable if we visit early to avoid the traffic jam.  In my case, I prefer to visit my parents resting place before the 1^st of November.  Prior to the occasion, family members would clean up the tomb, freshen up with new coats of paints and make sure the epitaph on the head stone are readable.  For those who can afford to pay, they would hire someone to do the job.

All Souls Day

I visited my parents resting place the 2nd of November, thinking there could be less people going to the memorial park.

At the entrance of the Memorial Park..

Some people opted to walk from the entrance just to be with their departed loved ones.

Drastic Weather Change

Powerful adjective but that is how I could describe our Philippine weather these days. Being a tropical country, Philippines have summer and rainy seasons.  For several days we had warm weather and I was to blog about the sun shine.  The other night it rained, last night it rained real hard. Manila, Philippines is on storm signal number 1 as strong typhoon Ofel visited some areas of the country for the past two days. Several air and sea commuters were stranded as their planes and ships were not allowed to travel. Despite the dismay of some passengers, authorities are careful for safety of all travellers. 

The good news is, we will have fine weather over the weekend and on All Saints Day. All Saints Day is a feast Filipinos observed yearly. We visit our departed loved ones at their resting places offering candles and flowers. To some they offer prayers. It is the time of the year when families gather together. Memorial parks and cemeteries are on festive mood from the 30^th of October to the 2^nd of November. I will visit my parents on the 31^st of October.

All Souls Day VS Halloween

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Except for those homes located in posh villages, offices, and shopping malls. Halloween is not a great festivity in the Philippines. Most Filipinos would rather be at memorial parks and cemeteries to be with their departed loved ones. We visit departed loved ones on All Saints Day and All Souls Day, bringing candles and flowers. To some, just to avoid traffic jams, they visit as early as a week before or on the 31^th of Oct or 2^nd of Nov.

All Souls Day is the 2^nd of Nov. following All Saints Day. In the Philippines, however, we celebrate All Souls Day on the 31^st of Oct through the 1^st of Nov. Traditionally All Souls Day is great fiesta for Filipinos. It had been handed down from generation to generations. Filipino families gather themselves at the place where departed loved ones were laid to rest. Some would stay overnight from the 31^st of Oct. to the 1^st of Nov. To some however, they spend the vigil lavishly. Such that, some would bring wines and liquors, intoxicating themselves forgetting some wants to celebrate the occasion solemnly in prayers. To maintain peace and order, police officers are posted inside memorial parks and cemeteries. Bags are inspected from the entrance. Items like, karaoke, kitchen knives, playing cards are confiscated and returned to the owners upon leaving the area.

I visited my parents with my brother and sister in law, Monday 25^th of October. Good enough I heeded the advice of my sis in law. I filed vacation leave for Friday, 29^th of Oct. Lady luck did not smile at me. The vacation leave was not approved. The 1^st of Nov. is a holiday in the Philippines, but sad to say. No holiday for those working in Call Centers. The good news is we get additional pay working on Philippine holidays.