Observing UNDAS 2020

You are probably wondering what UNDAS is?  UNDAS is the holiday observed from November 1 to November 2 annually.   Employees are given these days off to go back to their hometowns and visit the graves of their dear departed.   This year however, since Covid struck the entire world, there will be some adjustments that need to be done in order to prevent the spread of the Covid virus.  You see gatherings are super spreaders so it would be a violation of the government order of social distancing if people converge inside cemeteries.  

So what do people do during UNDAS?  First, when they go to the graves of their loved ones, they would clean up the entire area: remove weed,  fix the broken parts like the cross, tombstone, plant flowers if needed.  They also repaint the tomb if necessary.

What do they bring to the tomb?  Flowers of course, candles which relatives light while saying some prayers, some food that relatives will feast on.  During this holiday, it's like families hold a mini-reunion or get-together, as one by one they drop by the cemeteries to bring flowers, light candles and just touch base with other family members.

What should not be done within the premises of the cemetery?  In the past, authorities were lenient in letting guests inside the cemeteries hold some drinking parties, play poker or "pusoy,"  sing the karaoke, and what-have-you.  Nowadays, authorities have been very strict in implementing no drinking, no gambling and no karaoke inside the cemeteries.   Which is just as well because often these activities end up in fights and tragically sometimes, in death.        

Here are some useful vocabularies for you, Tagalog learner:

candle - kandila

cemetery - sementeryo

flowers - mga bulaklak

grave - libingan

dead - yumao

death - kamatayan

grim reaper - Kamatayan

tombstone - lapida

local poker - pusoy

 You can try mastering them by word association or saying them out loud while pointing at the picture or realia, meaning real objects, like real candles or real flowers.  Remember, as a language learner, it is best to learn the language along with knowing the local culture.  

Remembering our dear departed is a tradition observed by many cultures.  It's an age old tradition as far as Filipinos are concerned.  This year, because of Covid-19, observing can be done just in our very own homes.  Lighting a candle and praying for our loved ones that have passed on is the only alternative we can do.