ALL SOULS' DAY

Halloween is past approaching, and here in Canada kids dress-up for trick or treating. It's the most popular holiday next to Christmas. Children and adults alike just love to have plenty of candy to amass.

While back home, in the Philippines, come November 1 people are celebrating the dead by visiting graveyards, cleaning up the cemetery or what have you, and offering food to honor their loved ones. The offering is called atang where food like sweets is served on a makeshift altar. It can also be in form of tobacco for the late elders. Hence the term All Soul's Day.

And I remember another important tradition during this time is somewhat similar to trick or treating. Folks would dress up in ghoulish fashion and goes from house to house for alms. And they would sing. "Pangangaluluwa" is the term for this.

And for the life of me, I can't remember the complete song they ever sung during this time except for the first two lines. I want to impart this to my kid that's why I am composing a song similar to the traditional song that I had heard during my childhood.

By doing so, may I honor the loved ones that already passed away. So please allow me.

Kaluluwa kaming tambing,
Sa purgatoryo nang-galing
Kung pagbigyan ang aming hiling,
Mananahimik kami mandin.

Si San Pedro naman kasi,
Kaming ti-boo bo itinanggi.
Nawalay, napuram pati
Saklolo'y ipinagkati.

Iatangan ng malagkit
Itlog, tabako at pancit,
Ipagturos din ng kandila
Kaming multong kaawa-awa.

Kaya't 'sensya na mga praning
Hwag naman sanang masamain,
Dalaw na 'to'y para senyo rin
Di na muling mumultuhin.