COLOMBIA, SA — My Filipino friends always look forward to a long holiday to commemorate the death of their departed loved one’s which is regularly is set on November 1 and 2 in their calendar and often it is a holiday.
The observance of All Saints Day and All Souls Day is common among my friends especially the Roman Catholics but the diverse culture and tradition in their country there are variations in the observance of remembering the dead.
This year, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared October 31 as a non-working holiday while November 1, 2022 was previously declared as a special non-working holiday according to the 2022 Nationwide Calendar of Holidays announced by the Palace
Since October 29 and 30 fall on a Saturday and a Sunday respectively, Filipino’s will enjoy a four-day break until November 1 .
Most Filipinos remember the dead by visiting the cemeteries primarily by offering food, flowers, lighting candles, offering prayers while other spend overnight at the cemetery and the occasion serve as a reunion of sort.
Those who failed to visit the cemetery offer prayers, food and light candles in their houses.
It is interesting to note, not all Filipino’s share the same belief and tradition when it comes to All Souls and All Saints Day Commemoration.
Philippines being the home for 112,946,884 Filipinos, is also the home of different religions which bring different customary laws, belief and tradition.
Of the over 112 million population, more than 86 percent is Roman Catholic, 6 percent belong to various nationalized Christian cults, and another 2 percent belong to well over 100 Protestant denominations, which explains why the feast of the dead is a holiday.
For Catholics it is the day to remember their departed but for others it is just a holiday to enjoy with the family.
Among those who do not observe the All Souls Day are the Jehovah’s witnesses because they believe what Ezekeil 18: 4 in the Bible states about death “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Jehovah’s Witnesses do not celebrate the holiday which promote belief in the immortality of the soul:
For the the Muslims who practice Islam, they do not observe it but they remember their departed loved one’s even during Christmas, they do not go to Muslim cemeteries and practice what Christians do, but prayers for forgiveness to Allah for their dead loved one’s is done any time of the year, it is acceptable and is considered a pious action.
For every loved one’s gone, there is always heartache but memories always remain and it is being cherished not only during the All Saints’ and All Souls/ Day commemoration but in times of longing.
For generation Z which I belong, November 1 and 2 is worth a reflection-regardless of creed, color and religion.-Leandry La Rosa
