FOR US kids growing up on Ponciano Street back in the day, the first two days of November were sober times. In fact, they were scary as hell (not that we’ve been there).
As we had no TV at my grandparents’ house, where we still lived at the time, the only option left for us children was to listen to the old folks’ choices of radio programs. Back then, that was the only playlist.
This was particularly true come evening time, when we were done playing outside, and our neighborhood mates had all been called back to their homes for dinner.
As a child, All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day were traumatic times indeed back then. At six or seven in the evening, the grownups would tune in to their favorite radio horror program, “Gabi ng Lagim (Night of Horror),” a nightly program meant to usher in Halloween.
The maids and the boarders would delight in watching me sitting petrified on the sofa, with hands to my ears. I’ve always wondered why scaring children during these supposed first two days in November was the popular pastime for these adults.
Incidentally, at the present time, those who may have watched the animated film “Coco,” the depiction of All Souls (in the Mexican tradition), was not scary at all. And totally different from ours.
November 1 was called Día de Muertos, or Day of the Dead, and it honored all the children who have passed on. Their second day, our All-Souls’ Day version, was dedicated solely to the adults who have died. Even as both our cemetery visitations on these days are considered traditional, the days are considered by the church as a Holy Day of Obligation; hence, all should hear Mass.
Another modern touch during this pandemic threat, which is way scarier than ghosts running about, is this… Ask yourself: what’s it going to be, risk visiting our dead in cemeteries now, or actually be with our dead in their spirit world in time for next year’s celebration?
P.S.
My deepest affection, love, and thanks to our departed: Mama Pin, Lola Tonying, Lolo Ute, Lola Titang, Ate Pilar, Lola Benita, Lolo Intsik, Tita Nen & Tito Berting, Jojo, Kuya Bong, Kuya Uding, Adits and Mandy, and our sweet apo, Andrea Elise (Kooch) and her dad, Bong. While they might all be just names to you, they comprise the finest parts of me.
