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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.
