Undas Survey 2007

I went through an Undas Survey through text. The question I sent was this: “Where are you today?”140 people texted back and their replies are summarized as follows:

  • 61 were in the cemetery — 43.57 percent
  • 43 were at home (including those who said they already went to the cemetery on Oct. 31) — 30.71 percent
  • 26 were in the province (including those visiting the family panchon/nitso there) — 18.57 percent
  • 8 were at work — 5.71 percent
  • 2 were at a mall (actually 3 but the third who said s/he was at the mall clarified that it was work-related) — 1.42 percent

The results of the informal survey (except perhaps the two replies from those who went to the mall) and my observations during a visit to a panchon/nitso in Cavite give me an impression that Pinoys are more solemn and somber during Undas than on Biyernes Santo.

Methinks Undas is the holiday of holidays especially this year when we enjoy almost a week’s leave from work and school.

This may be due to the Filipino people’s deep respect for the dead which is an amalgam of pre-Spanish beliefs and Christian doctrine