When Cemeteries are Closed, the Living Goes to the Beaches

This is the second year when we could not visit the tombs of our beloved departed on November 1 and November 2 because of COVID-19.

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I understand that this is a precautionary measure to avoid gathering crowds, which is risky due to the possible transmission of the virus. I have no problem with this measure.

My information is insufficient, so I may not be able to give an accurate analysis.

I want to ask: Are the resorts and beaches also closed during these dates (November 1 and 2)?

If the resorts and beaches are open, then why close the cemetery?

Allow me to provide possible responses to my question.

Resorts are open because they are following the protocol mandated by IATF according to our Alert level. In other words, only a few people are allowed in the resorts and beaches at a particular time.

Resorts and beaches are safe because most of them feature outdoor activities. More so, closing these establishments will cause economic difficulties to the workers.

I know you can think of other answers.

Your opinion is as good as mine, so there is no need to argue. I will concede that resorts and beaches should not be closed on the dates mentioned earlier.

Now, allow me to explore another perspective, particularly from my position as a minister.

Our attention is shifting from the religious nature of November 1 and 2 to become just another opportunity for a long holiday.

Since the cemeteries are closed and there will be a long weekend, people opted to go on a short vacation, not to their hometowns but to beaches.

Before COVID-19, people went out of town (going back to their hometowns) primarily to visit their relatives, both living and dead.

Sadly, during this year people did not visit the deceased or the living. Instead, they went to resorts and beaches.

As a minister, I find this alarming because this is an example of how secular values are slowly replacing the religious significance of November 1 and 2.

It can be argued that the cemeteries were open days before and after November 1 and 2, so you can still visit the dead.

But that is not my point because if we stretch that argument to its logical ends, it can be concluded that there is no need to limit your cemetery visit only on those days. You can visit cemeteries any day of the year.

My position is that November 1 and 2 as “special” holy days are becoming something else.

Closing the cemeteries on these particular dates is making this religious and cultural observance less significant, less meaningful to us collectively as a people reducing it to become an exclusively private family affair.

We can always have our private family remembrance like the death and birthday anniversaries of the departed members of our family on any other days of the year .

The celebration of "Todos Los Santos" is a collective religious cultural affair. It is when we as a nation celebrates together the remembrance of our dearly departed.

If closing the cemeteries on November 1 becomes a trend, it will become what the Holy Week has been to an increasing number of people, an opportunity to spend long days in Boracay, Siargao, or any other resorts instead of going to Church.

I hope that next year (2022), the closure of cemeteries during these holy days will no longer happen.

If it happens again, I hope brave people who believe in the importance of these celebrations will raise their voices in protest.