Undas
A colonial Spanish Christianity inspired tradition of visiting the dead is what the annual Filipino “undas” is all about. A heritage of the elite religious colonial powers preserve diligently by a religious sheeples is what it resonates on this religious tradition of the predominant Christian Philippines celebrated or observed on either three(3) days : October 31 ( the pre-observance),November 1 ( the day of observance itself) and November 2 ( the post observance).Since the Philippines is a predominant Christian in religion, most often than not, ”undas” have become falsely attributed as a pure original Filipino tradition and culture which every religious sheeple Filipinos can’t let go because they have already assimilated it on their own Filipino sheeple-programmed blood and non-concurrence of it would mean disrespect to the dead and disobedience to god. Thus, any Filipino would not concur is cast on the bad light and labeled “godless” by some majority of spiritually illiterate common mass of Filipinos. Some will deny it but it is indeed true.
Inherited colonial tradition is more cherished, love, hallowed (making it official Holiday) and preserved than Filipinos own spiritual tradition. This is how majority of all Christian-believing Filipinos whether academically professionals or not are cheated of their own true spiritual heritage because most of them are not inclined to spirituality; or they might be inclined to but already tainted with Christian concepts like most of the so-called Filipino spiritual books in the book market today.
Furthermore, Christian tradition of “All Saints’ Day” and “All Souls Day” are not the only colonial religious tradition that have successfully subdued the spiritual mindset of majority modern Filipinos today in times of “undas” or during October 31- November 2, but also the concepts of Halloween have creep in and ingrained on the spiritual life and culture of every modern Filipinos. This is so because most Filipinos do not value much true spirituality but Fake junk spirituality instead, for some thought spirituality is just a mere religiosity; worshipping and serving god, obeying the commandments of god, doing what is good in order to go to ‘heaven”, etc.
But spirituality is not that or it is not religion, this is where most common mass of Filipinos fall short in terms of spirituality. Thus, most common mass of Filipinos can be manipulated and controlled spiritually. This is how base is the modern culture of Filipinos in regards to their spiritual status.
The most important aspect of life is not valued by most modern Filipinos because Filipinos were cheated by organized religion like Christianity and Islam in their spiritual growth and status, due to either they are illiterate to it or have no inclinations about it. However, only few Filipinos seek true spirituality without the Jesus-thing.
“Undas” is just one of the colonial inspired religious traditions being preserved diligently by modern Filipinos aside from it, there is Christmas, Fiesta (Feasts of the Catholic Saints), etc.
Modern Filipinos have lost their spiritual identity indeed.
