Manila: Long before livestreamed novenas and interactive memorials made it possible to celebrate Undas online, there was a time when honoring the dead meant embodied practices offline. In an age when new media technologies are increasingly reshaping the way we commemorate All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, a nostalgic look back reveals the ghost of Undas past.
According to Philippines News Agency, Bicolano teachers share heartfelt anecdotes filled with humor and nostalgia, offering a glimpse into what Undas once was, a time before social media. At 60, Alicia Asaytuno reminisces about the communal spirit that defined the holiday. In the 1970s, Undas was incomplete without cooking linukay, a sweet sticky rice cake, and other treats. Family and friends gathered to pound glutinous rice, wrap it in banana leaves, and tie them neatly. Aleta Amador, 48, recalls her childhood when her family's bamboo winnower overflowed with traditional rice cakes prepared by neighborhood elders, illustrating the shared bounty.
Amador, a literature teacher at Bicol University, explains that this tradition of preparing sticky rice treats for offering to the departed and sharing with neighbors is rooted in the Bicolano folk tradition of 'Pasagurang.' This ritual, a thanksgiving ceremony for a bountiful harvest, reflects a syncretic tradition melding indigenous ancestor worship and Catholic practices. Offering food, uttering prayers, and sharing food with neighbors were believed to bring protection and blessings from ancestors.
Nestor Castro, a cultural anthropologist, notes the similar tradition of "Pangangaluluwa" in Tagalog provinces, where young people sang house-to-house for prayers and rice cakes, a practice replaced today by trick-or-treating. High school teacher Jayter Linganay, 34, fondly recalls the thrill of watching the Magandang Gabi, Bayan Halloween Special in the 1990s, a TV show that scared children with horror stories, while memories of candlelit vigils at gravesites and family reunions characterize the Undas spirit for Sharon Kay Julaton, 49.
Melanie Golosinda, 45, shares how her family lit candles at home to help souls find their way, a ritual symbolizing tribute to the deceased. Childhood antics like molding wax balls from candle drippings and invoking the "kalag" for unexplained mysteries are remembered with amusement by Linganay and Julaton.
Castro clarifies that while the celebration of Undas has evolved, the core values remain unchanged: respect for the dead, strengthening family ties, and expressing faith and spirituality. In modern times, whether online or offline, Filipinos continue to honor their deceased loved ones, recognizing the temporary nature of life and the eventual reunion with loved ones in the afterlife. It's important to remember the essence of Undas, as the tradition remains a vital part of Filipino culture.
