A Message for the Sembreak, Halloween and All Saints Day

Tuesday, 25 October 2011 03:25

Written by Aaron Benedict De Leon

For many students, it’s already the beginning of their semestral break, while some are still winding up their academic duties this week. Nevertheless, long weekends are about to ensue for the next two weeks. And long weekends mean more bonding time between families and loved ones, supposedly. And I used the word “supposedly”, because these things normally don’t occur nowadays. Spent as they are, young people resort to being with friends more than family.

It’s funny how barkada’s and tropa’s make plans for long weekends and vacations, and even funnier that some use this as motivation to do well in their examinations prior to that. It’s crazy how young ones go tireless in consuming their energies partying, drinking and just being merry, and ironic that they find going to church and malling with the family for 2-3 hours corny and baduy.

And as a result, what kind of society do we have now? 13 year olds getting involved in drug trafficking, petty crimes and worse, suicide attempts. What value system can be derived out of joining drinking sessions aside from “pakikisama” and having fun? At the end of the day, when trouble comes, who is mostly concerned with our welfare?

These are questions that bug a young leader like me. We strive and persevere to make institutional reforms and structural realignments to address the gaps in youth governance, yet it seems that this intention does not coincide and connect with the behavior some young ones are putting up. Some have become apathetic, incomprehensible and irresponsible. If we’re frustrated, what more the families, the parents that are being left out?

My perception is that people tend to think that the long weekend and vacation could be more attributable to a Halloween celebration, than commemorating All Saints Day. Well, this is a by-product of a superficial mindset. Well, don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing bad about celebrating Halloween with all kinds of gimmickry, but it should not supersede the true value of what should be commemorated. The glue which should bind us more is the chance to really dialogue and pay homage to our loved ones who have gone and laid to rest.

Sembreaks should not be entirely spent in Halloween parties. There is a reason why everyone is available for a lengthy period of time on this occasion- to celebrate and commemorate the lives of the people we have very little or no communication with during our regular busy days, those loved ones who have departed. Together- because this is one of those very few times that the physically alive and dead get together in a single place, praying and sharing intimate moments.

This occasion is a perfect opportunity to bridge communication gaps, to connect, to really be sincere about ourselves. Young people may not say it, but they really want to be with their families, more than their friends, given the correct situation and circumstance. Only through communication and dialogue, whether that be with the physically present or not, will family members have a mutual consideration of each other’s feelings. Only through these mechanisms will the tendency to stray lessen or even be removed from the consciousness of a child or a young person.

Parties are always there, the superficial gimmicks will always be around, but not the opportunity for everyone to FUNCTION as ONE COMPLETE FAMILY, with both the living and the dead confined in a physical, mental and emotional space.

To my fellow young people, I appeal to you- take time off from your regular party habits during ordinary weekends, and spend quality time with your families as you altogether celebrate All Saints Day. All Saints Day, not Halloween, because Halloween is only a commercial by-product of All Saints Day.

After all, there are two sembreaks, there are many moments where we could scare each other and make it appear like Halloween can happen anytime of the year, but there is a rare chance, often chance during a year, to really be physically present together with our families in the cemetery and spend time with our departed loved ones.

After all, All Saints Day, Sembreaks and yeah Halloween, should be celebrated with less jubilation, and more reflection and introspection.