Day of the dead

Today is All Souls’ Day, the continuation of the two-day holiday set aside by the national government where we honor the dearly departed and the saints of this world. That is why everybody is flocking to the cemeteries to pay their respects. I believe it has been a tradition deeply embodied in the DNA of every Filipino. Some say that this is the time where most families are complete rather than Christmas. As for me, I enjoy the company of my uncles and aunties who reminisce the moments of our departed loved ones when they were still alive.

We are an oriental people, a people who love stories. These make up who we are. Whenever I listen to a few anecdotes, it gets me thinking to understand who we really are as a family and as a people. Somehow it shapes my thinking and choices in the way I live my life. Which is, in a way, ironic because we feel so much life celebrating the day of the dead.

But that is how life works, you don't really see the value of things unless it is taken away from you. This I learned the hard way when I lost both my grandfathers at a very young age. Back when they were still around, I hated how they were too clingy to me and how they were very strict. It is only today that I realized how I have missed them and that their presence in my life was their affection for me. That is why I look back and try cherish whatever memories I have left in my head.

There is so much to live for. At 26, being a young adult is really stressful - we try to juggle work and the growing relationships that we have, let alone building financial stability for the future. We are the most burnt out because we live in an ideal reality that often leaves us frustrated. But today I have seen the beauty of life in the many diseases that most of my friends are going through. I have older friends who are experiencing the pain of cancer and are realizing things now. They want to live because there is much more to life. Heck, it is the most beautiful thing that God has given us.

While we are living on the celebration of the day of the dead, we could make a pledge to make the most of the life that we have now - take that leap, enjoy, laugh more and simply live the life you chose. Nobody can dictate how and what you should be. No one else will give you genuine happiness but yourself.

As we continue with the tradition of going to the cemeteries to visit departed loved ones, may this remind us that life on this earth is temporary. So live life by the day, seize it, and claim it that everything will go well.