As Typhoon Paeng exited the country and Executive Order No. 7 was signed where the wearing of face masks in indoor and outdoor settings shall be voluntary except in some cases, crowds are expected today, Nov. 1, in cemeteries all over the country. This is a drastic change after two years of restrictive policies regarding public events and crowd sizes, which were intended to combat Covid cases.
Undas is a Filipino term generally referring to the custom of “honoring the dead,” which encompasses the period involving All Saints Day, which is today, and All Souls Day, tomorrow, Nov. 2. All Saints Day is a Christian celebration in honor of all saints and martyrs and shared by all Christian churches, while All Souls Day is a day of prayer remembering the souls of those who have died. Though there is a distinction, Filipinos started visiting the graves of their departed loved ones as early as a week ago, with some planning to do it over the next weekend. Whatever day one chooses — going today, tomorrow, or some other day to avoid the crowd, it is always a family affair.
Looking back at our history as a people, Undas is among the events in our calendar (the other one being Lenten week), when Filipinos in the cities return en masse to their home provinces. It is a reunion with a reason. If, in any case or circumstance, they don’t have the opportunity to go back home and visit the graves of their loved ones, they would light candles outside their homes instead, whisper a prayer, and remember family and friends who had left this physical world.
During remembrance, Filipinos take this time to remember the role that their departed loved ones had played in their lives. At the cemeteries, family members take turns telling stories and anecdotes about grandparents or parents, even siblings or children who had passed too soon. No Undas is complete without gathering over lunch or merienda, passing time while the candle flames flicker and the scents of flowers waft in the air.
Today is also a time for prayer for the world, which had seen devastating news affecting lives, such as those who perished during the onslaught of Typhoon Paeng, the Halloween revelers who passed away in Itaewon, and the nameless and faceless individuals who are the casualties of war, famine, and injustice. We do not know who they are, but they were once part of this chain called humanity.
On this day, it would be appropriate to reflect on God’s words regarding life and death, and why this is part of the “cycle” of living. Ecclesiastes 12: 6-7 says: “Remember him—before the silver cord is severed, and the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the wheel broken at the well, and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.” To explain these verses simply, it means that life is short and our opportunity for wise stewardship on earth will not last forever.
When we reflect on the brevity of life, it makes us cherish each day, each hour, each second more than ever before.