On All Saints' Day, devout Filipinos across the Catholic-majority Philippines gathered at cemeteries to honor and remember departed loved ones, even amid challenges like recent flooding from Tropical Storm Trami. In Manila, nearly a million visitors were expected at Manila North Cemetery, where people queued before dawn to pay their respects. Families like Virginia Flores's, who lit candles for her grandmother, honored memories of the deceased in tombs stacked in "apartment"-style structures.
In Pampanga, despite knee-deep floodwaters, many made their way to Masantol municipal cemetery, carrying candles and flowers to continue the long-standing Filipino tradition of visiting graves on this public holiday. Maria Cayanan, who couldn’t reach her parents’ graves, symbolically lit candles at home, maintaining the connection despite the obstacles.
The resilience of these families illustrates the deep cultural significance of All Saints' Day in the Philippines, where the annual visit symbolizes undying love and remembrance.
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