All Saints' Day in Pictures

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            Filipinos visit the departed to honor All Saints' Day, locally known as Undas. The first of November spell cemeteries packed with people paying visits to relatives, friends and even celebrities who have passed on. A tradition taken from colonial rule, Filipinos widely honor Undas to this day. Due to popular participation, Undas remains to be one of the more interesting calendar dates of the year.

           On the days preceding Undas, some Filipinos celebrate the more American tradition of Halloween. Kids and adults alike dress up in costumes, ranging from scary to funny. Malls and other commercial establishments ride the hype and hold events like trick-or-treat, scarefests, and costume contests. Families take advantage of the break to spend time together.

           Still, most Filipinos choose to go the traditional route of flocking to cemeteries to honor the dead. Each year, government agencies prepare for the increased flow of foot and vehicular traffic leading to the cemeteries.

           This picture slideshow is composed of pictures taken from various places around the Philippines: Indang Catholic Cemetery, Manila North Cemetery, Angono Public Cemetery, Fairview Terraces Mall, Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina, St. Francis of Assisi Memorial Park in Gen.Trias, Cavite, Garden of the Divine Word Columbarium in Quezon City, Manila Memorial Park Cemetery in Paranaque, Paraiso Cemetery, Loyola Gardens Antipolo, and Guinobatan Catholic Cemetery in Albay

Write-up by Aki Merced and Mia Rodriguez

Earning a Living on the Day of the Dead

By Kenneth Gutlay

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          The first day of November is a time when Filipinos honor the dead. Many people brave the crowds to visit the graves of deceased loved ones to offer flowers and prayers. "Undas", which refers to All Souls' Day, begins on All Saints' Day. By night, cemeteries still buzz with life.

          It is a common sight to see children during the day scraping wax off candlesticks and the pavement. At night, it is no different. The collected wax gets sold by weight so new candles could be made from them. The children earn some pocket change for every kilo they sell.

         Other older people sell food and drink in stalls littered in almost every intersection. Some serve as caretakers of mausoleums and graveyards. Some children sell toys and other knickknacks to children. Still, the most lucrative of them all would be the flowers and candles, which is an Undas staple.

        Whatever they're offering, many Filipinos find opportunities to earn a living in the Day of the Dead.

It’s a Family Affair

By Dale Calanog

              People say All Saints’ Day is the complete opposite of Christmas,  but for the families in St. Francis of Assisi Memorial Park in General Trias, Cavite, it’s like celebrating Christmas with the dead. For them, every family affair is worth celebrating and although some tears had to be shed, the spirit of joy and thanksgiving does not lack one bit. 

              At the center of the memorial park is a grass field which could actually be mistaken for a football field if one does not spot the hundreds of tombstones planted on the ground. The grass field is comparable to the UP Sunken Garden, only smaller and is surrounded by mausoleums, smaller version of the buildings circling the UP Sunken Garden. Kids are unfazed by the blinding heat from the sun as they jump, run, and roll in the grass field. Many of the Filipinos’ most-loved street food can also be found in the kiosks placed around the memorial park.

             The fun does not stop at sunset. The annual lighting of the hot-air balloons is an event families don’t want to miss. Hot-air balloons of red and green ink are lighted and made to float in air with a message dedicated by a family to a departed loved one. This is then followed by a firework display adding more color to the already colorful evening painted by the glowing accessories of the kids. The party is made complete with a cold serenata (serenade) from the park’s orchestra group.

Traditional Ways to Remember the Dead in Modern Days

by Marie Uy

As 21st century came, undas has been like a holiday celebrated like a family gathering by most Catholic-Christian Filipino families. The following images present the traditional ways in commemorating undas, but are inspired by the new trends.

1. Pray for the soul. This man is praying the rosary while kneeling for the soul of his beloved one. He maintains a solemn and serious aura while praying and looking at the tombstone of his departed. Prayers are what the departed ones need the most.

2. Make it presentable. The family member of the departed asks the helpers to clean the tomstone to make it presentable. She watches over them as they scrub each letter of the epitaph. The departed ones would appreciate it if their tomstones are readable.

3. Keep the graves clean. Cleanliness should also be maintained even in the final resting place of the departed. The man cleans the grave of his departed as he sweeps on a plastic "thrown away" by the wind. 

4. Decorate the flowers. Flowers signify remembrance and care if offered to departed ones. This little boy arranges the flowers he picked around the tombstone. 

5. Get candles. Candles are always present on solemn moments like undas. The man gets the candle holder to light it up just like the other candles to offer to his departed one.

6. Be artistic. The grave was designed with hearts made from petals of different-colored roses, which shows effort in showing how much the family of this departed person cares for her. Simple efforts like this can be appreciated by the departed ones, and also by the living ones who pass by it.

7. Light it up. Lighting of candles has always been a tradition on solemn events like this. It is believed that lightened candles bring light to the departed and guide them on their journey in afterlife. This man lights up a candle for his departed one. 

8. Commemorate with the family. A family that prays together stays together. A family that commemorates together stays stronger. This family spends their Nov.1 together on the tombs of their departed.

9. Don't forget to bring fresh flowers. Flowers are much appreciated if they are fresh. It will last longer and smell more fragrant. The man carries two baskets of fresh flowers on the entrance to Loyola Memorial Park for his departed on Nov.1. 

10. Bring protection from weather. The weather in the Philippines changes from time to time. Protection from all kinds of weather should be prepared. When going to the cemetery, it is recommended to set up tents and bring umbrellas.

Not Your Ordinary Halloween Costume Parade

by David Tristan D. Yumol

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             Around 50 residents of Brgy. 731, Zone 80 in Singalong, Manila held a simple procession to commemorate Halloween, but none of them were wearing the usual scary and bloody outfits.

             Instead, they paraded in the outskirts of the barangay dressed up as saints and angels in this event organized by Saint Anthony of Padua Parish.

             Parish priest Fr. Benny Tuazon said they made this event to bring back the real significance of Halloween, which is to celebrate the holy people and to inspire Catholics to be like these saints who lived a righteous life.

All Saints' Day in Loyola Memorial Park Marikina [VIDEO]

Video taken and edited by: Christian Venus

Gawad Plaridel 2014 Awarded to Nora Aunor

By Krysten Boado
Video by: Marie Uy and Tamara Natividad

Superstar Nora Aunor, who used to sell water near train tracks and never got past Grade two, said she felt like a college graduate after receiving the Gawad Plaridel on Wednesday     . 

The famous actress, who was proclaimed artista ng bayan (artist of the nation) by the University of the Philippines, focused on her beginnings as a performer and the several films and shows she made during her career in her lecture that lasted nearly an hour. 

“Masayang masaya ako, (I am very glad.)” the Superstar said in an interview after the ceremony. “Isang malaking karangalan maging artista ng bayan. (It is a huge honor to be an artist of the nation.)”

The Gawad Plaridel is the sole award given annually by the university to recognize outstanding media practitioners in the Philippines.

Among those present during the awarding ceremony were UP officials Michael Tan and Alfredo Pascual, CMC Dean Rolando Tolentino and former Gawad Plaridel awardee Jose Maria Lacaba. 

The program, which was hosted by broadcasters Gretchen Fullido and Ivan Mayrina, also featured performances from UP SAMASKOM and the UP Concert Chorus.

Aunor, who is the 10th recipient of the award, was selected by the UP College of Mass Communication because of her contribution in transmedia, particularly in Philippine film and television.