FOR Filipinos, honoring the dead has always been deeply rooted in culture, though the ways we do so continue to evolve. From annual journeys home during All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day to the distinct funeral rites practiced across the country, remembrance takes many forms.
Undas, derived from the Spanish ‘honras fúnebres’, or funeral honors, reflects this enduring tradition of keeping our departed close, even as the ways we remember them change.
Across the Philippines, these traditions give a glimpse into how communities keep their connections with the departed alive. In Sagada, Mountain Province, Panag-apoy, which means ‘to light a fire,’ has families light the saeng, or wood from old pine trees, beside their loved ones’ graves in lieu of candles. The practice emerged in the early 1900s, blending Anglican Christian rites with local Igorot customs.
Meanwhile, in Cebu, Kalag-Kalag, derived from the Cebuano word kalag, or soul, was a tradition shaped by centuries of Catholic observance and local beliefs about the dead returning to visit the living. With cemetery visits, prayers, flowers, candles, and music, Kalag-Kalag becomes a family gathering that brings loved ones together. Both traditions show how remembrance takes on different forms across the country, opening a conversation about the intersection of cultural heritage and tourism.
For travelers, these customs provide an opportunity to understand the culture of Filipino communities and how they express grief and celebrate family ties. From Sagada’s mountain communities to Cebu’s lively gatherings, Undas is more than tradition. It’s a chance to go beyond the usual tourist spots, get to know local stories and traditions, and experience each community with the respect it deserves.
A different kind of heritage experience
Cemeteries offer a different kind of heritage experience: the opportunity to visit the final resting places of people who have shaped the country’s history, arts, and culture. In Manila, the Manila North Cemetery and Manila South Cemetery hold the graves of notable personalities, for example. These places invite visitors to reflect on the lives, legacies, and historical events that continue to influence the nation today.
For a different side of Manila, there are available walking tours in Manila Chinese Cemetery that take you beyond the usual tourist spots and into a fascinating mix of history, culture, and heritage. Established in the late 19th century, the cemetery is known for its elaborate mausoleums with distinct architectural styles and stories of notable members of the Chinese-Filipino community. Some mausoleums resemble small houses, while others reflect a blend of Chinese traditions and Western influences.
Walking through it feels like stepping into an open-air archive of history and architecture. These cemeteries also contain memorials connected to the country’s wartime history. With a knowledgeable guide, a walking tour can turn what might initially seem like an unusual destination into a meaningful heritage experience, offering a deeper understanding of Manila’s multicultural past.
And visiting these places can also be a more personal heritage tour experience. Especially when a name found in a history book becomes connected to a real, tangible place, which invites one to pause, reflect, and appreciate the stories behind it.
Soulful times, remembrance with a twist
While traditions like Kalag-Kalag continue to evolve, their heart remains the same: keeping loved ones close. Eternal Gardens for example is redefining what a memorial park can be, offering families a place not just to remember loved ones but more as Eternal Gardens celebrates its Golden Anniversary this year. From enjoying the outdoors through a morning jog or a quiet walk, and even having families have more choices for fun activities like bazaars and food concessionaires. At Eternal Gardens Lipa, families can enjoy Acoustic Soul Serenade, an acoustic session at the bazaar around 8 p.m. on November 1. It’s a reminder that even in places of remembrance, there’s room for music, shared moments, and the simple joy of being together.
Recently, Forest Lake Memorial Park gave this tradition a fresh spin through Undasko, a blend of Undas and Pasko that lets families celebrate Christmas early with their dearly departed, adding a more meaningful stop for their Undas travels. ‘But of course, families can still come together to pray and observe Undas in a solemn and meaningful way,’ Carlos Locsin, National Sales and Marketing Manager of Forest Lake Memorial Park, told BusinessMirror and other media.
Across its memorial parks, Undasko adds a family-friendly twist to remembrance, with activities like inflatables, food concessionaires, and live entertainment alongside dedicated spaces and schedules for quiet prayer, mass, and grave blessings.
It is a new perspective on what a cemetery can be. Rather than being places that families visit only during solemn occasions, memorial parks are creating more welcoming spaces where remembrance and recreation can coexist. Also, these activities in memorials like Undasko even introduce the little ones to these traditions in a setting that feels warm and welcoming, not at all creepy and scary. It also encourages conversations between generations, allowing children to learn about their family history while parents and grandparents share memories of those who came before them.
This transformation also invites a broader conversation about the future of tourism. When we think of destinations, we often picture beaches, mountains, heritage houses, or food districts.
Yet, cultural tourism can also be found in the everyday practices that connect people to their roots.
Of course, the tourism potential of cemeteries rests on maintaining a thoughtful balance. Festive activities should never overshadow the solemn purpose of these spaces, and visitors must be mindful of families who come to grieve and pray. It’s a reminder that meaningful places we travel to are not always those with the grandest views. They are the ones that attract us because they remind us where we came from, who we love, and why we keep coming home.