Pubmat by Shiloh Telebrico

By Aeron Montallana

“Grief doesn’t go away, you grow around it” – Lois Tonkin

Upon setting the candle alight, our longing unveils as time passes by. Every word written on their gravestone resembles their perennial spirit that will forever reign amidst the dark. Thereupon, the warmth of candlelight illuminates our eclipsed hearts while we reminisce in the memory of our beloved.

Every Filipino is known for their indefinite compassion and faith towards their relatives and others. In the time of Undas, every family gathers as one which reunites them despite being distant. This holiday is the combination of two consecutive sacred days; All Saints’ Day which is celebrated on November 1st which commemorates the saints and martyrs during Christian history, and the All Souls’ Day afterwards.

All Souls’ Day, also known as The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, is a day in the Catholic calendar dedicated to remembering and praying for the souls of the deceased. It is observed on November 2nd, when people celebrate the holiday by following their traditions such as visiting cemeteries and columbariums, going to mass, and preparing a feast in honor of the departed loved ones. 

This tradition dates back to the early centuries of Christianity. Back then, it was a normal practice for Christians to pray for their late relatives which emphasizes their undying connection even in the afterlife. Churches also believe that this latter is a day of offering prayers to those faithful souls being purified in Purgatory while honoring them for their fidelity in life. 

Time has passed, and these traditions were significant in preserving the spiritual beliefs of Catholics back then. In this generation, how is Undas still celebrated? Are the lives of the deceased celebrated as much as they were in the past?

The Candlelight

Undas, or “Araw ng mga Patay,”  in the Philippines is celebrated as a special non-working holiday after the All Hallows’ Eve or Halloween which falls on October 31st. This is also an academic break for students in the middle of the semester. However, this time of the year reminds us that Undas is more than a vacation — it is also an opportunity to bond with our family and friends. The spirit of love within us is being invoked as we gather to celebrate Undas for the remembrance of the deceased that once made us whole. 

Traditionally, lighting candles during Undas has been an integral practice rooted in various cultures. Many people believe that it is a way of honoring the souls of the loved ones, fostering the sacred expression of love and remembrance. Visiting graves is also a part of their spiritual tradition, where people bring flowers or personal items as a tribute while they sit and reminisce about the moments that deeply connected them together in the past.

One of the unique cultures being celebrated in the Philippines every Undas is the Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) as a joyful acknowledgment of death and life. In this tradition, people create ofrendas (offerings) to honor their departed family members. This includes altars decorated with bright yellow marigold flowers, photos of the late relative, and favorite foods and drinks of the one being honored. These offerings are believed to encourage visits from the land of the dead as the souls of the departed hear their prayers.

“On All Souls’ Day, we always visit my grandfather’s grave, we would stay there beside his gravestone and bond as a family. As a part of our commemoration, we light up candles that signifies our love and remembrance. Sometimes, we also go to church to offer our prayers during the mass as a way of honoring the lives of our loved ones every year. That’s our tradition.”

These were the sentiments of Claire Fajarito, an ASHS student from 11-Goupil, about her experience on how their family celebrates All Souls’ Day.

This kind of commemoration gives them comfort and time to reminisce about their late relatives. Whenever they light up the candles, it creates a sacred and reflective atmosphere, which in return—keeps their spirit alive along with the precious memories they shared together.

As the rainy season chill surrounds the air of grief, the ignition of our memories through the candle we offer to our loved ones indicates our unwavering love for them. The candle is more than a solemn gift, it also symbolizes our life within itself.

Flickering Flame

Our life is like a candle; we keep burning as we live. However, when a candle flickers, the feeling of vacancy lingers. 

Grief is a profound emotion towards someone’s death or loss, encompassing the feeling of a sudden earthquake that leaves you stranded and forlorn. In the face of cataclysm, the tragic stories of bereaved families; losing a loved one is disturbingly harrowing –– as if they have lost a part of themselves in the aftermath. While trying to rebuild their lives again, the sorrowful feeling is unfathomable. This emptiness can last for a long time, knowing we can’t turn back what happened in the past. 

“Grief has definitely been present in my life, and those experiences are difficult to describe. A sense of emptiness at first, followed by immense sadness. A depression that seems that could never end, and wishing all these negative paths to have never been existed. Yet at the end of everything, comes pure glee. Many experience this with any kind of grief, but after all this comes many lessons and different interpretations,” were the sentiments of Harper* upon reflecting on their personal vision of Undas.

Undas is a time for grieving and empathy. Every individual has their own burden inside that we may not know –– but this heartache could still sting even for a long time. On this day, we share our personal narratives and suffering to each other as we acknowledge the loss of others. In this way, we could let them express their emotions and help them heal. This reassures us that this mournful feeling will eventually lessen over time, and solace will be in our midst.

May the guiding light shine upon the souls of those victims of typhoons, illnesses, and other calamities; we also seek hope for their families who were left behind.

This is the time to pray for their souls.

Scintilla of Embrace

Even amidst the strife, there will be a spark of hope that will brighten the pitch black skies–telling us that we can always light the candle once again.

As we reflect on our feelings, we grow even through despair and learn to accept the reality of life. This sacred holiday prompts the significance of recalling the past. It evokes the feeling of sorrow that has remained within us, but also gives the comfort that we needed. Undas gives us the opportunity to pause and retreat from the world for a moment.

“Grieving made me see death as not an end but a path of new beginning. What’s important is to enjoy the present, learning from the past, and looking forward to the future. One must accept that things come to an end, but should not be a reason to stop living. Living is to be true to yourself, thus why I want to live how I want to stay true to my beliefs and values. Results and endings are how you want to view it, and I see it as part of life,” said Harper.

Evanescence of light may be inevitable over time, but the fleeting glow of a candle marked its everlasting warmth it once brought to us. Our reflection allows us to immerse in the depths of life and discern something beautiful out of it. Beyond acceptance, there will always be solace and reassurance as a token of our unconditional faith. Let us remember that this suffering is not a reason to stop living, but instead, this is the call to keep firm and unyielding as we face adversities.

Thereafter, our hearts will set the candle aglow which marks the beginning of our new journey. Boundless love transcends time, circumstances, and even, the afterlife. Through remembering, we refurbish the gloomy atmosphere anew and deepen our spiritual connection with our dearest ones. 

“It’s a day to remember the ones who have departed and also a chance to appreciate the people we have now. Aside from that, It’s a way to get closer to God as well, to be grateful for the loving and supportive people we’ve met. I always find myself thanking Him for my family and friends, their love makes me so blessed to have them,” said Claire as she expressed her insights on what Undas means to her.

All Souls’ Day is celebrated not only for the people we loved who have passed away. It is also a reignition of our candle and the redemption of the spark that we have lost along the way. It reminds us that life itself is one thing to be grateful for, and it is important to cherish our time with family and friends who mean the most to us. Therefore, we will find our way back to our old scintillating candle which is fueled by tribulations that make it shine brighter than before.

Let us commemorate the loving memory of the deceased. This is the day for us to recall those special times as we pray for their souls.

Names marked with an asterisk (*) are pseudonyms and were used in place for students who opted to remain anonymous.