Remembering our Ancestors

Dia de los Muertos, aka Day of the Dead, aka Feast of All Souls just recently passed. It's an indigenous celebration that was passed to The Church by colonized ethnic groups who continued to practice this tradition long after they become christianized. It's a time to remember our ancestors, all of the struggles they endured in their lifetime and remembering that we stand on their victorious shoulders.

I was completely amazed at the traditions of this celebration when I was in the Philippines in 2003. I grew up knowing very little about this tradition. As far as I knew, you're supposed to build altars to your ancestors during special occassions and place the same food and beverages on the altar as that which the entire party would be eating. In the Philippines, not only was food placed on altars but an all out party was hoppin' at the cemetary. If it hadn't rained the night before, I'm sure they would have had karaoke machines bumpin' until sundown. Family members from afar came home for the occassion to help clean the debris on ancestral gravesites, decorate them, light candles in their ancestors' memories and take time to truly remember them.



My lovely friends introduced me to Dia de los Muertos in college. It was so similar to Pilipino traditions, it was not hard to embrace it. Besides, with all the pasteles y decoraciones hermosas, who could resist?

To my dearest Lola, Lolo and Uncle Gimo, thank you for your strong spirits. Your loving memories lives on in me and inspires me everyday of my life. Lola, you inspire me to be as great of a woman as you were in your lifetime. My most vivid memories of the Philippines are of you. Lolo, you inspire me to seek the truth in all that I do. Uncle Gimo, you remind me to live life to it's fullest and find the silver lining in everything. I miss all of you dearly but I know you're always with me and will always be there when I need a kick in the ass to keep going. I promise to share the gifts you've given to me to others I encounter in my lifetime.