How do Filipinos living away from home observe Undas? Rappler’s readers weigh in
MANILA, Philippines – Each year, Filipino Catholics take the time off of their regular schedules to commemorate All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day on November 1 and 2, respectively. These two days are otherwise known as the religious holiday called Undas.
During this time, families and individuals travel back to their hometowns to honor their loved ones who have passed on. For a good number of Filipinos, however, this isn’t always possible. With this, we asked Rappler’s readers to share how they honor their departed loved ones while living far away from their hometowns.
Here’s what they had to say:
Prayers
For a handful of commenters, honoring the dead in the form of a prayer is enough when you’re away from the resting place of your loved ones. It’s a simple way to remember those who have departed, no matter where you are in the world.
“Praying for them and asking them to guide me wherever I am,” one Instagram commenter wrote.
Setting up an altar at home
Meanwhile, Rachel Antoinette Diaz – who’s based in Mindanao but has her son and mother buried at the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina City – makes sure to set up a home altar that includes framed pictures of her deceased loved ones, candles, and fresh flowers.
Lighting candles
Food, kakanin, and flowers are some of the most popular offerings Filipino Catholics usually prepare during Undas. For those with distance as a barrier, however, lighting commemorative candles is one of the traditions they turn to to remember the deceased, and to provide them with a symbolic guide in the afterlife.
These candles are often placed on an individual’s altar at home, or outside, on their balcony, similar to Gem’z Estuaria.
Hearing mass, offering mass intentions
Next to prayer, hearing mass at a church in their area is another way to pay respects to the departed. The act of going to church is often accompanied by offering mass intentions for the dead during Undas.
Visiting the nearest cemetery
If you are unable to visit the cemetery where your loved ones are buried, you can still go to the nearest cemetery like commenter MG EC, who was based in Davao but had their loved ones resting in General Santos City.
According to MG EC, their parents would head to the big cross situated in the middle of the cemetery, and would still do their usual Undas rituals there. They would light candles and offer their deceased loved ones’ favorite food, among others.
“Even if we couldn’t go and visit them, the spirit of remembering them is still alive,” MG EC wrote.
Remembering them every day
For commenter Jose Macapugay, though, what’s most important is that you remember the departed every day.
How do you commemorate Undas when you’re living away from your hometown? – Rappler.com