Family News

The typhoon has passed, and the sun is out, although the streets still have large puddles.

The conference is still going on. Chano rings the bell for meals (reminds me of church) and they blow a shofar at the start of each session (reminds me of a synagogue).

Tomorrow is the day we celebrate the dead. Usually this means going to visit the graves, and ligthing candles, putting flowers on them, and cleaning up debris. In Manila, vendors are forbidden to keep the streets clear, but here you can buy ice cream or snacks in the cemetary, and the kids of course are running around playing.

Since it is very crowded and hard to drive to the gravesite, lolo went today. When we visited Ito's and his father's grave Helen and her daughter were there. Helen has lost weight and looks pale, but she is smiling again. Then we went to Fred's mother's grave.

Ito's grave is newer, so it has four pillars and a roof over the gravesite. Fred's mother's grave is in the open, but has an area to sit in the front. We took orchids from the garden and placed them there, lit candles and said a prayer. Then we went to church for a short prayer and home.

Catholics in the US have always celebrated Nov 1 (all saints day) and Nov 2 (all soul's day) by going to mass and visiting graves, but now that there are so many Mexicans, in some areas it is becoming a fiesta.

Alas, with political correctness,in the USA children are no longer learing about All Hallow's Eve being the preparation for the next day, when we celebrate our extended family in heaven.

Here however the dead are still part of the family, but now they live with Mama Mary, God the Father and Kuya (older brother) Jesus...