A holiday, a tradition, a reunion and a cook-out + a cheap date :)
November 1 is a holiday for the whole philippines. And for my family (father's side), it also means the day of a huge reunion at the cemetery (ie. the loyola memorial park). Now, whilst filipinos here would readily understand how the typical tradition goes, I am sure most of our international readers haven't got a clue! Allow me to describe it as best as possible. *wink*
November 1, also known as All saints' day, is a government holiday in the philippines typically spent visiting, praying, and honoring the dead. (It used to be both Nov. 1 and 2 but they changed it this year. tsk tsk.) People flock to the cemetery to visit graves of their loved ones, bringing with them flowers, candles, and bundles of food. However, spare some traditional chinese visitors who offer food for their dead, the food brought by most locals is actually to be eaten in a sort of picnic manner in the cemetery. Yup, you read that right! People here in the philippines honor the dead in such a manner where families pitch tents and set-up mats or tables beside their loved ones' graves. Filipinos, being a very family-oriented nation, visit the cemetery literally in flocks. We spend the day eating, praying and catching up with each other (hey, we are happy people, hehehe).
A shot of Loyola Memorial Park on Nov. 1, 2006
I remember years ago when my grandmother brought a priest from bangladesh (where I heard nov. 1 is a very very solemn mourning affair) to come spend this day with us. He was beyond shocked and was almost condemning the whole thing. But as they say, different strokes for different folks, people! Whilst we actually do mourn and wear black when we pay our respect at funerals, nov. 1 is spent celebrating the lives of loved ones who had passed away. The cemetery is so full of people that its almost like one very big public affair. There is also a big church in most cemeteries where people can hear mass all together.
That's the big church. Can you spot my hottie bf?
Being a sort of a big picnic-like event, food was also everywhere! From our baon (packed food) to food stalls to street vendors and peddlers! You won't believe it, but in a span of 3 hours I ate: grilled fish, green mangoes with bagoong (salty shrimp paste), balut (incubated duck egg), taho (sweet tofu?), quail eggs, chicharon (popped pork skin) and yellow cab pizza! Yes, there was really a yellow cab pizza stall and I forgot to take a picture for you. *pout*
Chicharon, mango w/ bagoong and taho. All popular streetfoods in manila!
Since the day was so hot, my little bros and I decided to buy cheap snocones too (this was around 4 pm). Yup, there was a small snocone stand and I have a picture. hehehe!
Here it is in the middle of the cemetery:
And here's our snocones together! hahaha. I'm such a retard. heehee!
I got grape, drew got lime and rob got orange
Before I end this post, you must be wondering what I did wear to the cemetery... well considering that it was sweltering hot and humid yesterday and we were all going to be hanging out playing board games by the grass, I went to the cemetery looking like this:
cream and khaki white tiger shirt from urbanoutfitters, khaki cargo shorts from unionbay, lavender macrame bag bought in boracay and black top havaianas flip flops
And boy, did I make the right decision! The moment I stepped out of the car, beads of perspiration started forming at the sides of my face. eeeeewwww... i know. haha!
We left the cemetery at around 5 pm (half an hour after we all prayed the rosary) since bf was starting to melt in his black shirt. hehehe! (I had earlier told him that black shirt is going to kill him but he didn't believe me.) Then later that night, bf had wanted to pass by greenhills to get a new logitech case for his psp.
Here is his new psp case:
As for me, I had only asked bf to buy me one thing there. Could you guess what it was? I had to force him to buy them for me right before we left.
(pic taken at the car coz these do not last long with me!)
They're sour apple and strawberry chewy candy strips from pick & mix. My absolute fave! hahaha. See.... Aren't I such a cheap date? hahaha!
November 1, also known as All saints' day, is a government holiday in the philippines typically spent visiting, praying, and honoring the dead. (It used to be both Nov. 1 and 2 but they changed it this year. tsk tsk.) People flock to the cemetery to visit graves of their loved ones, bringing with them flowers, candles, and bundles of food. However, spare some traditional chinese visitors who offer food for their dead, the food brought by most locals is actually to be eaten in a sort of picnic manner in the cemetery. Yup, you read that right! People here in the philippines honor the dead in such a manner where families pitch tents and set-up mats or tables beside their loved ones' graves. Filipinos, being a very family-oriented nation, visit the cemetery literally in flocks. We spend the day eating, praying and catching up with each other (hey, we are happy people, hehehe).
I remember years ago when my grandmother brought a priest from bangladesh (where I heard nov. 1 is a very very solemn mourning affair) to come spend this day with us. He was beyond shocked and was almost condemning the whole thing. But as they say, different strokes for different folks, people! Whilst we actually do mourn and wear black when we pay our respect at funerals, nov. 1 is spent celebrating the lives of loved ones who had passed away. The cemetery is so full of people that its almost like one very big public affair. There is also a big church in most cemeteries where people can hear mass all together.
Being a sort of a big picnic-like event, food was also everywhere! From our baon (packed food) to food stalls to street vendors and peddlers! You won't believe it, but in a span of 3 hours I ate: grilled fish, green mangoes with bagoong (salty shrimp paste), balut (incubated duck egg), taho (sweet tofu?), quail eggs, chicharon (popped pork skin) and yellow cab pizza! Yes, there was really a yellow cab pizza stall and I forgot to take a picture for you. *pout*
Since the day was so hot, my little bros and I decided to buy cheap snocones too (this was around 4 pm). Yup, there was a small snocone stand and I have a picture. hehehe!
Here it is in the middle of the cemetery:
And here's our snocones together! hahaha. I'm such a retard. heehee!
Before I end this post, you must be wondering what I did wear to the cemetery... well considering that it was sweltering hot and humid yesterday and we were all going to be hanging out playing board games by the grass, I went to the cemetery looking like this:
And boy, did I make the right decision! The moment I stepped out of the car, beads of perspiration started forming at the sides of my face. eeeeewwww... i know. haha!
We left the cemetery at around 5 pm (half an hour after we all prayed the rosary) since bf was starting to melt in his black shirt. hehehe! (I had earlier told him that black shirt is going to kill him but he didn't believe me.) Then later that night, bf had wanted to pass by greenhills to get a new logitech case for his psp.
Here is his new psp case:
As for me, I had only asked bf to buy me one thing there. Could you guess what it was? I had to force him to buy them for me right before we left.
They're sour apple and strawberry chewy candy strips from pick & mix. My absolute fave! hahaha. See.... Aren't I such a cheap date? hahaha!
posted by CC at 12:32:00 AM
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