Day of the Dead Holiday
In the Philippines, All Souls' Day is known as Araw ng mga Patay (literally meaning Day of the Dead). November 1st and 2nd are two of the most important days in the Filipino calendar. Those two days represent a celebration that has close ties to the Catholic Church and the Spanish occupation.
People do literally honor their dead. Cemeteries contain family plots with room for several generations. We stopped by a newer cemetery that does not allow much out of ground monuments. Families setup a canvas canopies for protection from the sun or rain (we had no rain), chairs, blankets, sleeping bags, pillows and whatever it takes to be comfortable. Since they stay all afternoon and into the evening, there's a table loaded with food and in some cases, a propane cook top. Some even have fans with extension cords running to nearby power outlets.
It's a true day of remembering ancestors as family members hang out, visiting and enjoy being together.
We seldom see fresh flowers for sale in the market but someway thousands of fresh flowers replace bananas and mangoes in the roadside stands that day. We have no idea where they are grown since every inch of land is growing rice, beans or squash. The flowers become elaborate works of art. It's serious business for the families to adorn the grave sites with flowers.
Then we went to the oldest cemetery in Cabanatuan. This one is a mixture of family plots defined with hedges and family mausoleums. The mausoleums range from a century+ old to new buildings that look like a local housing development. The two story duplex in the pix below contains marble and granite vaults and looked like a floral shop inside.
We tried to go back after dark to see the thousands of candles burning but the traffic around the cemeteries was grid locked and so we worked our way back home.
Chad and Kathy Dansie were experiencing the same holiday in Oaxaca, Mexico and were invited to create one of the tapestries for someone these honored. They created one in behalf of Chad's mother, Judy. It's interesting how these countries really honor their deceased more than dropping off some flowers while the car is still running.
Christmas Lights
Even thought the stores started selling Christmas decorations and playing Christmas Chorals in September, only now are the people getting around to decorating. One Brangay (neighborhood) is advertising Christmas Lighting celebration for Dec 1.
We pulled up to one of the Elders apartment buildings and noticed what looked like Christmas lights wrapped around the railing. Upon closer inspection, it wasn't Christmas Lights :)
Obeying Traffic Laws
When we went to get our Philippine drivers licenses, the posters listed "obey all traffic ordinances and signs." Of course, nobody does. Some of the best parking places are in front of the "No parking" signs. It helps to turn on your hazard lights then it looks like you are only double parking for a minute or so. However, we haven't found the hazard light switch in our Corolla. Can't find the heater or speed control either:)
Senior Couple Outing
President and Sister Clark invited all the Senior couples to spend the morning together and lunch at the mission home. The sisters went to the quilt factory in Angeles and bought elaborate hand stitched quilts at wholesale prices. (Add the freight to ship home and they may not be such a bargain.)
The Elders Explored some sites around Clark, the old US air force base. First was to visit a hanging bridge across the river used by locals to cross the river. First had to get through a makeshift security gate on the road. Most of the security stops and really make work jobs. After filling out a form, they let us continue up the road. We reached a point where some equipment was pushing dirt around. It may be a landfill, not sure. More security and people hanging around. We parked the car and asked them for direction to the bridge, even though we could see it on Google Map about 1/2 mile down a dirt road. President Clark recruited a guide from the group and soon we were headed to the bridge with 3 security personnel. they didn't have anything else to do and were happy to accompany us.
When we got to the bridge, they said that the boards were rotting and recommended that we not try to walk out on it. Our guide about 90 lbs, ventured out a ways until the boards were rotting and stopped.
Then we went to see the new (Korean money) master planned golf community being built. 27 holes, houses and a huge hotel. 18 holes are public and loaded with players. They play in 6-somes and everyone has a cart on the defined cart path. Well the guards at the gate didn't know how to let us in and just wander around. President Clark had to exchange his DL for a pass. Then we had to drive up to the sales office.
The nice young Korean sales guy met us in the street and wanted to ride up the hill with us to give us the tour. There was no room in the car for him so he decided we should come into the sales trailer/construction office. I was expecting big screen video pitch and maps Instead there was an empty conference table. He invited us to sit down while he figured out what to do with us. As I (Elder Dansie) moved a swivel chair to sit down, the top half of the chair fell on the ground and they were all panicked that I had been hurt.
At that point, one of the engineers said in Tagalog, "They are missionaries, they don't have any money so don't waste your time." (President Clark understands tagalog) So we got back in the car, the sale guy got in his car and we sent up the hill to the clubhouse for our sales pitch. They have 4 models under construction and he hasn't sold any yet. The entire course is hillside and playing in 6-somes was moving slow, but Vans were rolling in with more players. Green fees with cart are about $80 US.
This may not seem funny to you, but we laughed about the "security" all morning. PS, we were told to wear casual cloths but only Elder Dansie got the message.
And finally, have you heard the joke, "how many missionaries does it take to screw in a light bulb?" Seniors helped put up Christmas Decorations at the Mission Home.
