All Saint's Day and All Souls' Day are observed holidays in the Philippines.
Besides having no school (it usually falls during a "semester" break), they're holidays where going to the cemetery is fun - especially at night.
I have a vivid memory of visiting my grandfather and uncle's graves on the night of All Saint's Day.
My grandmother, aunts, uncles, and cousins trekked to the cemetery together bringing candles and fruits to offer the dead.
I was frightened on the way there since it was nighttime and it was dark.
But upon entering the cemetery, the horror movie in my mind vanished.
The place was brighter than day from all the lit candles.
People were smiling, laughing, catching up with old friends - and I don't mean the dead ones - that it was like a big fiesta.
It is one of the reasons I miss the P.I.
I was watching the news last week.
They reported that the severe typhoon season caused some flooding in many cemeteries.
Some people worried that they wouldn't be able to visit their dead loved ones.
The newscaster joked that for those people who can't visit the cemetery, their dead loved ones will pay them a visit instead.
PINOYS KEEP ALL SAINTS' DAY TRADITION ALIVE