Undas 2009 Philippines
All Souls Day in the Philippines is called UNDAS. It is considered a Fiesta (holiday). This year it is celebrated on a weekend. It started Saturday October 31 and will last until November 2.
Many people are living in Manila but go to the provinces to be with their families during this time. Busses are loaded with passengers and their belongings. No bus is out of duty, they are all set on duty during these days.
My wife’s sister, who attended a seminar in Manila, had to go back to Bicol Friday evening. But the threatening typhoon Santi was passing the Philippines that same evening and night. She texted us that her bus was stranded somewhere in Quezon province due to heavy winds and fallen trees on the road. On some placed there were flooded roads. Many busses were stranded and all eateries were sold out because of the many busses and their passengers passing by. It took her about 24 hours to reach her home while a normal trip takes about 12 to 13 hours.
Already several days before Undas lots of people are going to the cemeteries to clean the graves, paint them, and put flowers and candles. On the ‘fiesta’ itself, they go there bringing the whole family to remember their beloved ones and to be with them. Food and drinks are being brought and lots of people bring party tents and chairs, and even foldable beds. They usually stay on the cemetery for hours and many people are even spending the night there.
It looks a real fiesta when they are eating, singing and playing games. BBQ and karaoke are not allowed anymore on most cemeteries.
Other people taking advantage to try to earn some money by selling flowers, food and / or drinks or other stuff to the visitors. On all cemetries in the Philippines you will see the same scene these days.
I have included some pictures I have taken at the Himlayang Pilipino cemetry at Quezon city when we visited the grave of some relatives. I also added a few other pictures of the Columbarium at Sanctuarium and the Araneta bus station in Cubao. It gives a good view of what UNDAS means to the Philippines.
We also had to go to the Sanctuarium in Quezon City, Araneta Avenue, where the ashes of my wife’s sister are put in the colombarium after she passed away last September. The colombaria there were decorated with many flowers and some candles to remember them.
I will write a special about Sanctuarium soon. But you can check their website HERE.
Although the authorities are asking the visitors to bring their garbage home after their visit to the cemeteries, they leave most of it just there. Good of them that they do not throw it anywhere but collect it on certain places.
Filipino time:
