As All Souls' Day approaches on November 2, Bishop Ruperto Santos of the Antipolo Diocese urged Filipinos to honor and pray for their departed loved ones, stressing the importance of respecting the dead by avoiding disturbances and focusing on offering prayers for the peace of their souls.
In an interview with Radio Veritas, Bishop Santos stated, "It is a call for us to pray, to offer Holy Masses for our beloved dead for their eternal rest. Let us then leave them in peace, wherever cemetery they are buried."
The bishop's reminder comes amid recent remarks from Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte, who warned the Marcos family to exhume the remains of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. from the Libingan ng mga Bayani and throw them into the West Philippine Sea. This is in connection with the ongoing political conflict between the country’s two highest officials.
Marcos Sr., who passed away in 1989 while in exile in Hawaii following the EDSA People Power Revolution, was controversially buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in 2016 under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte. Despite opposition from various groups, including church leaders, who questioned the legality of the decision, the burial proceeded.
Bishop Santos highlighted the Christian duty of providing a dignified resting place for the deceased, stressing that this act is an expression of respect and compassion. "We know one of the seven corporal acts of mercy is 'bury the dead.' Our culture is to respect our faithful departed. Even to the grave, we give them a decent burial," he added.
As the Episcopal Coordinator for Asia for the World Apostolic Congress on Mercy (WACOM), Bishop Santos also shared insights from the recent fifth Asian Apostolic Congress on Mercy, held at the IEC Convention Center in Cebu City. One of the key discussions, led by Fr. Chris Alar, MIC, centred on the "seven corporal works of mercy," which includes burying the dead.
Bishop Santos urged Filipinos, as Christians, to continue praying for the souls of the departed, seeking God's mercy and compassion for their eternal peace.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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