The Undas observance in cemeteries throughout Metro Manila yesterday was generally peaceful and manageable, the National Capital Region Police Office said.
Local authorities and police observed a rise in visitors paying tribute to their deceased loved ones, with enhanced security measures implemented in NCR cemeteries.
The Philippine National Police said more than 2.4 million individuals have already visited cemeteries nationwide as of yesterday.
The NCRPO has been on full alert status since Oct. 28, deploying over 20,000 police personnel to ensure public safety.
As this developed, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday called on Filipinos to honor the legacy of their departed loved ones by transforming remembrance into meaningful action.
Mr. Marcos said the annual tradition of Undas should go beyond mourning and nostalgia, serving instead as a time for renewal and reflection on how to live lives of purpose and compassion.
“Even in the transience of our own mortality, we have the capacity to make a lasting impact in our communities and those around us,” he said.
“We proclaim that those who came before us do not vanish into nothingness but continue to live on in our hearts and minds,” he added.
The chief executive said acts of remembrance, like lighting candles, offering prayers, and laying flowers, symbolize a deeper commitment to carrying on the good deeds of the departed.
He also reflected on the spiritual meaning of Undas, describing it as a celebration of hope and faith in eternal life.
“These occasions remind us of the paradise that awaits in the hereafter, where poverty, pain, and suffering no longer hold purchase,” Mr. Marcos said.
For her part, Vice President Sara Duterte called on Filipinos to reflect on faith, unity, and love for the country during the period of Undas.
“We continue to pray for the peace and quiet of their souls… May their memory be an inspiration in every step we take in life,” Duterte said.
