By now, people must have returned from their yearly trek to the cemeteries and columbaria to honor their dead in observance of "UNDAS".
UNDAS? The first time we came across the word, we thought it was a United Nations agency similar to UNDP, UNHCR, UNAIDS, UNESCO, and UNICEF. Since we were young, we always knew that the day we reserve to honor the departed is called "Todos Los Santos", meaning All Saints Day.
The word, we later found out, is as Filipino as it can be. Although originally derived from the Spanish "honrar" meaning 'to honor', it became 'honras' when conjugated to the first person.
Years and years of usage and typical Pinoy mispronunciation like cebollas becoming sibuyas, the word has later been used as "UNDAS." And it has, since then, stuck.
"UNDAS" ranks among the most important of Filipino holidays, along with Holy Week and Christmas.
Honoring the dead here in the Philippines is not only observed, however, on 1 November, the day we call All Saints Day. Most urban folks, owing to heavy traffic, choose to honor their departed loved ones as early as Oct. 30 and 31 — which this year fell on a weekend — and even extend it to All Souls Day on 2 November.
Growing up, we used to hang around with our elder siblings as the family gathered together at the tomb of our departed loved ones which we earlier cleaned up a day or two. We remember our hands getting sore rubbing compound to the monstrous golden candelabra or candle holders to make them shiny. It was a duty bestowed on us by our elders, otherwise, we won't be able to join the reunion.
Not so much interested in elderly banter, we would sneak out of the gathering to go around the cemetery and make wax balls out of candle drippings, the bigger the better. It's a contest, actually between us cousins. The one with the biggest wax balls at the end of the day gets handsome rewards from the elders, enough to buy snacks and toys.
Our cemetery experience in those days was not limited to family issues as children became teens and visited one another in their respective departed relatives' tombs and exchanged pleasantries. At that time, stories were no longer about childhood memories but about school crushes, etc. No more toys and dolls. More on girls and boys playing beautiful music with whom.
There were also spectacles to look forward to like honor guards standing stiff and serious at a presidential tomb and ogling at celebrities visiting their family mausoleums. Then there were those who spend time with their barkadas, singing to the accompaniment of a guitar or playing card games when those were not yet banned by authorities.
And how about families turning the cemetery into picnic grounds? We could only wish that we had those too but potluck parties were not the family's cup of tea. We were more on socializing with long-lost kin and siblings and praying.
During those raucous days, some people use the occasion to gather with their drinking buddies to the chagrin of those peacefully remembering their dead and praying. With today's ban on liquors and loud music, the observance of "UNDAS" has become more solemn and peaceful. No more distractions as we try to come to terms with our mortality.
With the coronavirus depriving them of two years of "UNDAS" commemoration, people turned out in droves to the cemeteries and columbaria over the weekend, reaching a crescendo Tuesday as the rains spawned by severe tropical storm "Paeng" somehow abated.
We could only wish for better weather and a more solemn observance of "UNDAS."
After all, we deserve such a break.
E-mail: mannyangeles27@gmail.com