sorrow before joy
Todos los Santos is a grand celebration in every corner of Catholic Philippines. A few days before the big day of November 1, people already will be sprucing up the graves of their departed ones. Services are available everywhere, from kids touting paint and cleanup jobs to contractors installing tents and electric lights. In high end cemeteries, grand 2-story villas are testament to oneupmanship tendencies and may cost upwards to 10 million pesos ($180,000). In public humble cemeteries, the ordinary folks, inter their dead in niches that can be 6-8 storeys high. There can be no lack of festiveness though, rich or poor. On the big day, traffic stops at the cemeteries while other main roads will be deserted.
One of my biggest challenges yesterday, Oct 29, when we visited this public cemetery where my paternal grandfather and relatives are buried, is to time my picture when nobody will be blocking my view or intruding in the desolate image I wanted to show. In just 2 days, it will be difficult to see a niche without a flower or a candle or people teeming around celebrating life rather boisterously and joyously (not solemnly). Todos los Santos after all is already a party.
the Naga public cemetery, Southern Cebu, the Philippines
more pics and journeys in colloidfarl.blogspot.com/
sorrow before joy
Todos los Santos is a grand celebration in every corner of Catholic Philippines. A few days before the big day of November 1, people already will be sprucing up the graves of their departed ones. Services are available everywhere, from kids touting paint and cleanup jobs to contractors installing tents and electric lights. In high end cemeteries, grand 2-story villas are testament to oneupmanship tendencies and may cost upwards to 10 million pesos ($180,000). In public humble cemeteries, the ordinary folks, inter their dead in niches that can be 6-8 storeys high. There can be no lack of festiveness though, rich or poor. On the big day, traffic stops at the cemeteries while other main roads will be deserted.
One of my biggest challenges yesterday, Oct 29, when we visited this public cemetery where my paternal grandfather and relatives are buried, is to time my picture when nobody will be blocking my view or intruding in the desolate image I wanted to show. In just 2 days, it will be difficult to see a niche without a flower or a candle or people teeming around celebrating life rather boisterously and joyously (not solemnly). Todos los Santos after all is already a party.
the Naga public cemetery, Southern Cebu, the Philippines
more pics and journeys in colloidfarl.blogspot.com/