An OFW’s postscript to All Saints’ Day

It has been some time already since I was able to observe All Saints’ Day, which falls on November 1st, together with my family back in the Philippines.

I still remember how busy we prepare for this day by buying candles from the best bargain we could find, order flowers after choosing what we like and what suits our budget. Food preparation can never be left out as well. We consider All Saints’ Day a sort of family reunion as well.

Now that I am here in Kuwait as an OFW, I still try my best to give solemnity to the occasion by saying sincere prayers for the souls of my dearly departed relatives, lighting candles near my flat door, sending some assistance to my family to help in the preparation of All Saints’ Day.

Some of my foreign friends ask me why I still observe these things when November 1st comes. I tell them that it is part of the age old Filipino tradition that has been handed down to generations.

In my heart and in my mind, I know that I can still continue giving reverence to All Saint’s Day in spirit, even if I am far away from my home country.