31/10/2025
FEATURES | Passed is Past
The night flickers with candlelight, and the air is oddly familiar due to the scent of flowers drifting across the grassy cemetery ground.
With "Undas" or All Souls' Day approaching on November 2nd, families are drawn together by the memory of their loved ones resting in peace. Small flames quietly flicker beside the names on the stones, keeping those memories warm and alive.
While some pour out their hearts in sorrow, missing those they’ve lost, others share laughter and stories, finding joy in reuniting with relatives they haven't seen for a long time.
This long-standing tradition began after Catholicism was introduced to the Philippines. Undas was established to honor the souls of the departed; it was even customary to leave an offering or "atang," which is an unlit dedication to the passing of a loved one.
During Undas, families visit cemeteries to clean and decorate tombs, light candles, offer prayers, and even camp overnight while sharing food and stories that connect the living with the dead.
As the night deepens, each lit candle becomes a guiding light for the departed souls toward peace, while every flower stands as a token of love and respect for those who have passed.
Amid the prayers, which may sound like odd rituals, shines their unfazed faith and hope that their beloved have gone somewhere they could be safe and sound.
But even after all the prayers, offerings, candles, and flowers, one might say that the true symbol and essence of All Souls’ Day is the family unity that endures. The light continues to burn, not in wax, but in the hearts of those who can remember.
It is this togetherness that keeps the departed lingering in their memories. All the bonding has lasted and will continue until their deathbed; one thing has kept those memories well and alive: the unity within their families.
"Past is past," one might say, but behind the flickering candles and the scent of flowers, the departed make their way out of the past to help us shape tomorrow.
