Rainy All Saints’ Day in Luzon, Visayas

MANILA, Philippines - Residents in the eastern sections of Luzon and Visayas can expect rains while the rest of the country will generally have warm and humid weather on All Saints’ Day, the weather bureau said yesterday.

In its special weather outlook, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the eastern section of Luzon and eastern Visayas will have light to moderate rains beginning today until Tuesday due to strong easterly winds and the tail-end of a cold front.

The rest of the country will have warm and humid weather condition, with chances of isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening.

No tropical cyclone is expected to enter or develop in the Philippine area of responsibility during the outlook period.

PAGASA also warned fishermen and operators of small sea vessels against going out to the seaboards of Southern Luzon and Visayas due to big waves generated by the strong easterly wind that may reach as high as three to five meters.

Moderate winds with moderate coastal waters will prevail over the rest of Luzon and Mindanao.

DILG to LGUs: Ensure public safety

Interior and Local Government Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento is calling on all local government units to keep tomorrow’s observance of All Saints’ Day safe for the public.

In a directive, Sarmiento urged all local chief executives to convene their local peace and order councils to formulate contingency plans on public safety to prevent any untoward incident during the observance of All Saints’ Day, locally called “Undas.”

He also urged the local officials to mobilize and deploy law enforcers, barangay personnel and medical personnel in the vicinity of cemeteries.

The Philippine Red Cross set up 310 first aid stations in various cemeteries, seaports, airports and bus terminals, and deployed 1,810 volunteers to give first aid in emergency incidents, PRC chairman Richard Gordon said.

There are also Red Cross teams in 11 gasoline stations in major highways, including the North Luzon Expressway and South Luzon Expressway.

The public is also urged by lawmakers and the EcoWaste Coalition to avoid littering in the cemeteries and to clean up after their visit.

EcoWaste Coalition said the yearly massive littering during Undas is a gross disrespect to the dead and nature.

Christina Vergara of EcoWaste also advised the public to offer local fresh flowers, not plastic ones and avoid wrapping them in plastic, which will only end up as trash.

CBCP: All Souls’ correct day for the dead

Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) yesterday reminded the Filipino faithful that Undas is not a time for picnics, and that Nov. 2, All Souls’ Day, is the correct day to pay respect to the departed, not Nov. 1.

Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Cardinal Quevedo said that several dioceses reportedly taught that All Saints’ Day is the time of blessing the dead and blessing the graves. “But I think that’s a wrong one and a wrong message to give.”

“The time to travel to the province would be Nov. 1 and the actual honoring is Nov. 2 and the time to return would be Nov. 3,” he said. – With Mayen Jaymalin, Paolo Romero, Mike Frialde, Evelyn Macairan, Rhodina Villanueva