Manila: An official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has expressed hope for the return of the true spirit of “All Hallows’ Eve.” CBCP – Office for the Postulation of the Causes of Saints chairperson Bishop Renato Mayugba said on Wednesday that the Church must be able to lead the way to bring back the real concept of “Halloween,” the eve of All Saints’ Day.
According to Philippines News Agency, Bishop Mayugba emphasized the importance of reinstating the original purpose of Halloween as a time of prayer and remembrance for saints rather than a celebration of ghosts and devils. In Circular 1-2025, he stated, “I wish to bring into our religious consciousness this call to holiness, especially called for in the month of November. In particular, I wish us all to support the right and proper way of celebrating ‘Halloween,’ which is old English for ‘holy evening’ or the vigil for Nov. 1.”
Bishop Mayugba noted that the “deeply honored” Catholic tradition has lost its original spirit over time as it has shifted towards a secular celebration of the supernatural. He emphasized the need to recover the origin of the Vespers of All Saints’ Day, which should be an evening of prayer and remembrance of all saints rather than a focus on ghosts and devils. He expressed concern that the presentation of evil has been popularized, overshadowing the preparation for the celebration of saints.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) has prepared for the influx of inbound and outbound passengers during the long weekend as Filipino Catholics observe All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day on Nov. 1 and 2. BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval stated at the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon public briefing that all personnel are ready and on high alert at international airports to accommodate the anticipated increase in travel.
Sandoval assured the public that the BI’s personnel are fully deployed, with augmentation teams in place, particularly at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, to ensure efficient service at the counters. She highlighted that many Filipinos are expected to take advantage of the long weekend to travel abroad with their families.
