President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Saturday called on Filipinos to honor the legacy of their departed loved ones by transforming remembrance into meaningful action, as the nation marks All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day this weekend.
In his message for the twin observances, the President 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,” Mr. Marcos 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 emphasized that 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,” Marcos said.
He encouraged Filipinos to embody the virtues of the saints and to help build a society that mirrors the peace and compassion of the afterlife.
“Let the Philippines strive to be that lamp upon a hill, where people carry the memory of the dead as strength, the witness of the saints as guide, and the hope of a permanent dwelling as purpose,” Marcos said.
As millions visit cemeteries nationwide, the President reminded the public to observe the holidays with solemnity and unity.
