Every year, as October turns to November, the Philippines slows down in a way few other occasions can manage. Roads fill with families carrying flowers and candles, cemeteries hum with stories, and tables are set with the favorite dishes of people who are no longer there. This is Undas, the days around All Saints’ Day on November 1 and All Souls’ Day on November 2, when Filipinos pause to remember the dead.
This year, the calendar offers extra time to do it. Here is what to know about the dates, the cemeteries, and the traditions that make Undas one of the most deeply felt weeks in the Filipino year.
A long weekend built for family
Malacañang has declared both Sunday, November 1 (All Saints’ Day) and Monday, November 2 (All Souls’ Day) special non-working days in 2026. Together with the Saturday before, that makes a three-day weekend from October 31 to November 2, giving many families more time to travel to their home provinces and gather at the graves of loved ones.
As a general rule, a “no work, no pay” principle applies on special non-working days unless a company policy or agreement says otherwise, while employees who do report for work are typically entitled to a premium on their daily wage. If you are unsure, check with your employer or the Department of Labor and Employment.
Heading to a cemetery? What to expect
Large public cemeteries have already released their schedules. In Manila, the Manila North Cemetery is open to visitors from October 29 to November 2, from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tomb cleaning and repainting was allowed until October 27 and burials until October 28. Vehicles are not allowed inside from October 29 to November 2. Manila South Cemetery is open from October 31 to November 2, from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Crowds are the main thing to plan for. More than a million people visited the Manila North Cemetery on November 1 last year, according to a GMA News report. Cemetery officials, including Manila North Cemetery director Daniel C. Tan, have appealed to visitors to follow the rules so that peace and order are kept.
Items generally not allowed inside include:
- Pets
- Alcoholic drinks
- Smoking and illegal drugs
- Firearms, sharp objects, and other weapons
- Loud sound systems and guitars
- Flammable items such as alcohol and thinner
- Gambling paraphernalia
Rules differ from one cemetery to another, so check the advisory of your own city, parish, or memorial park before you go.
The traditions that keep the memory alive
For many Filipinos, Undas is less somber than outsiders might expect. Graves are cleaned and repainted, flowers are arranged, and candles are lit, a quiet glow that has become the image of the season. Families bring food, share it beside the tombs, and trade stories about the person being remembered. Children who never met a great-grandparent learn their name, their jokes, and their favorite kakanin.
In some regions, older customs still survive, such as the practice of going from house to house to sing and pray for souls, known as pangangaluluwa. Wherever you are, the heart of the tradition is the same: you show up, you light a candle, and you say their name.
Small tips for a smoother Undas
- Go early or go late. The first hours after opening and the evening are usually less crowded than midday.
- Pack for the heat. Bring water, a hat or umbrella, and wear light, comfortable clothes. Cemeteries offer little shade, and this has been a dry, warm season in many areas; see our guide to the super El Niño for heat and water tips.
- Travel light. Keep valuables at home and hold on to children and elderly relatives in dense crowds.
- Plan your ride. With vehicles barred at some cemeteries, expect to walk, and check road and transport advisories before you leave.
- Leave no trace. Take your trash with you, and use candles safely, away from flammable items.
- Visit a different day. If November 1 looks too busy, going on a nearby day can make for a calmer visit.
However you choose to spend it, Undas is a reminder that remembering is a family project. A long weekend, a pot of food, a few candles: sometimes that is all it takes to keep someone close.
Sources
- GMA News Online, “UNDAS 2026: Manila North Cemetery says Oct. 27 is last day for cleaning tombs” (October 11, 2026)
- Inquirer.net, “Manila North, South Cemetery schedules, reminders for Undas 2026” (October 8, 2026)
- PopBits PH, “Malacañang Confirms: Undas 2026 Falls on November 1–2” (September 2026)
