10 publishers · first seen Thu, 29 Oct 2026 13:26 UTC · updated Mon, 02 Nov 2026 21:10 UTC
Thousands of Filipinos visited cemeteries across Manila on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, to mark All Saints’ Day, a tradition known locally as Undas. Lorita Santos was among those who paid respects at the graves of her father and three other relatives, offering flowers and candles while sharing stories and prayers. The practice, rooted in Catholic observances on Nov. 1 and 2, also incorporates ancestral customs that predate Spanish colonization.
Undas, derived from the Spanish word 'honras' meaning 'honors,' has been passed down through generations as a way to remember the dead. Santos and others, like Mike Mamaril, emphasize the importance of teaching children the tradition to maintain family bonds and cultural continuity. Nestor Castro, an anthropology lecturer at the University of the Philippines Diliman, noted the long-standing Filipino tradition of ancestor veneration, which merged with Catholicism after 1565.
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