Family member take this opportunity to stay in the cemetery for the whole day or even stay over night at the grave of their loved ones. They will put up tents and bring food for the family to share. They even take this opportunity to hold a little family reunion as they pray and feast. The photo below shows how cemeteries can be very crowded during this occasion, however this is just the beginning wait till the sun goes down and you would have a hard time looking for parking because of the crowd.

My husband’s family also make it a point to offer a prayer for my Father-in-law and takes this time to gather as one family. Although, we do not stay long and we usually do it even before the crowd starts coming in.

My son was in my womb when FIL died, that’s why he never got the chance to know him but I make it a point that he remembers his lolo (grandfather).

Of course, a family gathering will not be complete without a simple feast. So after offering our prayers, we headed out to Max’s to take our late lunch.

As we celebrate the feast of the souls, besides the merriment and the feast, let us not forget to offer our prayer for our dearly departed loved ones.

Hope you all enjoyed this long weekend. Happy Halloween!

Here in the Philippines, people do not give so much emphasis in the Halloween trick or treating activities but more on remembering the dead during All Soul’s day. It falls on November 2, and it is usually declared as a Holiday to give people time to the cemetery to visit the grave of their friends and loved ones. It has been a tradition where families and relatives meet.

It also goes true for our family, we visit my Father-in-law at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Cemetery for the Heroes). This cemetery was established as a resting place for military personnel as well as heroes and martyrs who defended our country during the war. My FIL, was a retired captain of the Philippine Navy, the reason why this place is a fitting resting place for him.

Ever since my father in law died, my hub’s family will meet there during All Soul’s Day. After offering our prayers, we will gather at one place to have a meal together. It is actually a good excuse for my MIL and her siblings to gather together as one family.

***Libingan ng mga Bayani is located at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.