DirectRooms.com – Celebrate All Saints Day in Puerto Galera on 1 November 2011

DirectRooms.com reports that residents in Puerto Galera and across the Philippines will be holding celebrations for All Saints Day in November.

The occasion is a national holiday and is held to remember those saints that don't have a traditional feast day in the country and is also a time when people pay their respects to past family members.

This year 1st November will see people holding ceremonies for the Day of the Dead and the following day is also All Souls Day. On both occasions people can be seen commemorating saints and relatives and this is done by members and non-members of the Catholic Church.

Just before All Saints Day singers will be going to houses in the neighbourhood and sing about delivering souls from purgatory and this stems from the original concept where people would ask for alms and prayers for their family members.

Mass will also be held at church and afterwards families will head to the graves of their ancestors to decorate the tombs. It will also be common to see many families staying by the graves all day as they play games and bring picnics in the belief that their relatives are still with them.

Lek Boonlert, marketing head at DirectRooms.com commented: "As public holiday hotels in Puerto Galera become busier as people return to be with friends and family. Reservations need to be made months in advance to get a room over this time so visitors are advised to go online and book ahead."