Filipinos observe Undas with cemetery visits and Mass

Millions of Filipino Catholics visit cemeteries and attend Mass on Friday and Saturday, November 1 and 2, to commemorate Undas, marking All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day.

On All Saints' Day (November 1), Filipinos honor saints such as Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, alongside lesser-known individuals who lived saintly lives.

At the Manila Cathedral, a Mass is held at 12:10 pm on Friday for the Solemnity of All Saints.

During All Souls' Day on November 2, Catholics pray for the deceased believed to be in purgatory, offering prayers and acts of charity to aid their purification.

Families light candles, offer flowers, and pray at cemeteries on these days as part of Undas, a local custom influenced by Mexico's Día de los Muertos due to shared Spanish colonial history.

Since the Spanish colonial era, Filipinos have traditionally marked November 1 as the Day of the Dead, with observance extending until November 2 for those avoiding large crowds on the first day.