E D I T O R I A L
After the rains...
Filipinos, more often than not, experience a rainy “Undas”---the two-day period of November 1-2 commemorated in local religious tradition as All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day respectively. This year, 2011, Asinganians saw only a cloudy sky veiled the sun and dampen the afternoon heat thus tempering the adrenalin rush.
After the rains, the heat is on. Though the government’s weather bureau predicts two more typhoons will cross the country before the year ends, it is apparent that summer comes early for another prolonged dry season. Some parts of eastern Pangasinan—including Asingan—are now suffering from waterless improvised mini-irrigation systems washed out by previous typhoons.
Most unfortunate for the Philippines, typhoons were the very source of irrigation in most parts. Unlike in decades past where typhoons were less severe and evenly distributed during the rainy season, typhoons these days are devastating and comes close of each other. Yesteryears saw shorter dry season from March to May. The rest are the rainy period of June to August and the cool months of September until February the next year.
In sum, typhoon months of yore were mainly June-July. Today, it drastically moved to September-October courtesy of climate change. And yes, the archipelago have had enough plant and forest cover then to shield the country from extreme conditions of both dry and wet seasons. Now, severe flooding and prolonged drought were largely unchecked by any serious adaptation or mitigation strategies simply because of government ineptness, lack of funds, and technological inadequacy. Disaster preparedness and public awareness are wanting, too. Yes, after the devastating typhoon rains, suddenly comes the sunny days only to usher in a monstrous season of drought—a disaster after another. rmb
F E A T U R E
“Undas”
by: ruben “bencio” balino
This writer is no linguist as to scientifically dichotomize the origin and meaning of the word “undas”. Upon realizing though that the door to learning is unearthing the origin and meaning of things, this writer had to dig deep unto the pages of wikipedia via the google for the very “kernel” of the subject word, “undas”.
Apparently, “undas” is closely associated with the Spanish word andas, or possibly honra, meaning Day of the Dead (“Araw ng Patay”). Curiously though, undas is being observed in the Christian world in various ways and dates, in which case a more scholarly and lengthy discourse necessitates a separate article on the matter. For a tickler, some countries observed undas in solemn rights while others do it in festive mood. Others observe it on November 2 as All Souls Day while some do it on November 1 as All Saints Day. Mexico and the Philippines commemorate a two-day period of undas November 1-2: November 1 as Todos Los Santos (All Saints Day or Halloween, or Gabi ng Pangangaluluwa); and November 2 as All Souls Day or Araw ng mga Patay. Brazil’s Dia de Finados (Day of the Dead) is commemorated November 2. La Paz, Bolivia—for cultural reason of their own—observes it on November 9 as Dia de los Natitas or Day of the Skulls [the skull being associated with the dead].
More definitively, other countries commemorate November 1 as day of the dead saints, martyrs and innocents [as infants and children]; while November 2 is observed as day of the dead common man less beatified as the saints and martyrs [if one senses no distinction between the two…rmb].
Since the undas is more of a religious tone in this only Catholic nation in Asia, Filipinos like the Mexicans imbibe most the essence of this two-day bonding period for both the living and the dead. It has metamorphosed to be more festive now in urban centers as in the disco-type merrymaking, the boozing and the gambling right there over the catacombs.
Yet, the undas of old—for the likes of Asinganians still commemorating in the traditional manner like the “Atang” (food offering) and the “Tugkel Kandila” (candle lighting) both done at home and in the cemetery—is here to stay solemn for some time and dwell in our rural psyche, uniting families and friends and bonding old relationships stronger as ever. Hoping, as it should, a remarkably rich Pinoy tradition like the undas must be enshrined into our conscious and disciplined mind to become a stronger cultural fiber that holds us together to one solid nation now and into the future.PER COLUMN INCH
