MANILA, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Every year, millions of Filipinos in this predominantly Catholic country flock to the cemeteries on Nov. 1 and 2 to offer prayers and flowers to relatives and friends who passed away.
But the yearly Filipino religious and cultural tradition, locally known as Undas, is broken this year, and Filipinos will not be celebrating All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day near the graves of their loved ones in cemeteries for the first time, as the Philippines continues to grapple with a steady increase in the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Philippines now has 376,935 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 7,147 deaths.
The inter-agency coronavirus task force has decided to break the tradition to avoid further transmission. In a resolution, the body ordered the closure of "all private or public cemeteries and memorial parks, including columbarium" across the country from Oct. 29 to Nov. 4.
The body also advised people to visit the graveyard before and after these dates to avoid the crowd. The task force strongly urged people to wear face coverings and observe the social distance when they visit.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte set an example by visiting the cemetery before it closed. On Wednesday night, the 75-year-old leader visited the mausoleum of his parents at the Roman Catholic Cemetery in his southern Philippine hometown Davao City.
"The president's visit is an early observance of the forthcoming All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day or 'Undas' on Nov. 1 to 2, 2020," presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.
The tradition starts with cleaning the graves and grave markers by pulling weeds and repainting them days before All Saints' Day, a public holiday.
On All Saints' Day, a vigil is held, and prayers are said. Families set up tents and stay all day and night at the graves of their loved ones, picnicking with favorite Filipino foods such as chicken and pork adobo, rice, junk food, and soft drinks as if the dead are still among them.
Alcoholic drink is banned, but some managed to sneak in a small bottle or two to offer to the dead. Some bring guitars for entertainment. Fast food kiosks are set up inside and outside the packed cemeteries lending a festive mood.
For those who cannot make it to the cemetery, they light candles just outside the doors of their homes and make food and alcoholic drinks offerings to their dearly departed in the altar.
The Philippines has been in varying degrees of lockdown restrictions since mid-March, limiting the movement of people to avoid further community transmission.
"This is the new normal," Maria Gaceta told Xinhua in a telephone interview, adding she visited the crypts of her father and younger sister in a Quezon City columbarium on Sunday last week. She plans to visit the tomb of her mother after Nov. 4 when the cemetery in Paranaque City opens.
"It was a quick visit. We just lit candles, said our prayers, and offered some flowers. We did not linger like in the past years. We practiced social distancing, and we wore masks and face shields while there," Gaceta said. Enditem
