Remembering Halloween in the Philippines*

Happy Halloween, everyone! Trick or treaters, are your Halloween costumes ready? Be safe out there and have fun, when you go house to house with your parents or guardians.

Front porches, yards and houses are decorated with seasonal flags, carved pumpkins, jack-o-lanters and creative Halloween decorations.

I imagine there will be kids in their Power Ranger, Batman, Wonder Woman, police, firefighter or princess attire. Some will be dressed up in their casual clothes with a mask, and with their plastic or canvas bags on hand, hopeful for assorted goodies. Some will be dressed as ugly, scary beasts, vampire-like creatures or witches.

Kids will be going door to door around the neighborhood, escorted by parents or guardians, greeting homeowners with a shout of "Tick or treat!"

By the way, Halloween tradition came to North america from Ireland more than a century ago. Today, it has become a big industry, from Hollywood movies to the aisles of the nearest discount or grocery chain stores. 

Kids of all ages, even young teens and adults, still get a kick out of the cheap thrill of a good ghost story or a horror movie this time of year. This is just an indication that fear is a part of life.

It's normal, I believe, to be afraid or fearful sometimes, and it's OK to have fun with that fear sometimes. Yes, we do celebrate and capitalize on the "ugly" and "scary" part in us.

Meanwhile, in the predominantly Catholic Philippines, where I was born, Filipinos don't have this Halloween event for children. Instead, they go to the public cemeteries and clean the tombs or graves of their beloved dead the last week of October. They prepare the cemeteries to be visited, and tombs are freshly painted.

For all Catholics, Nov. 1 is All Saints' Day ( a holy day of obligation), and Nov. 2 is All Souls' Day (the commemoration of all the faithful departed), which are declared non-working holidays in the Philippines. Public and private schools and colleges are closed. College students in big cities, like Manila and Baguio City, go home to their provinces to pay respect to their dead.

Besides paying homage to their deceased loved ones, Filipino Catholics also honor the Catholic Church's saints. They believe saints like St. Anthony, St. Anne and St. Mother Teresa inspire and guide them in their daily lives. Whenever they pray, they ask for their favorite saint's intercession, so their prayers become meaningful, and they hope their prayers and hopeful wishes will be granted.

In the Philippines, people go to cemeteries in late afternoon or early evening and light candles at the tombs, while offering flowers or wreaths and prayers. in other parts of the country, townsfolk even offer food to and for their dead.

Mass for the dead is said and celebrated by a town priest or pastor, who then blessed and sprinkles holy water on the graves.

The two-day events also offer a great opportunity for townsfolk to interact with their friends and families who may have been away from the community for a time. Thus, public cemeteries serve as a venue for annual faith, family and community gatherings and fellowship.

To all Catholic worldwide, my wishes for a Happy All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. And to all kids in all of us, have a safe and fun Halloween!

-Chris A. Quilpa, a retired U.S. Navy veteran, lives in Suffolk. Email him at chris.a.quilpa@gmail.com.

*Appeared in the Opinion page of the award-winning Suffolk News-Herald, Sunday, October 29, 2017. For more information, visit www.suffolknewsherald.com. 

Get informed about the election*

I hope that by now, you eligible voters have already registered---or updated your registration address---for the Nov. 7 election. If you haven't done so, the deadline is Monday, Oct. 16.

Do you know for whom you will vote? The positions of governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and House of Delegates members, along with Suffolk's Commonwealth's attorney, sheriff, commissioner of revenue and treasurer, will be on the ballot.

How well do you know the candidates and their qualifications, and what are their positions or views in matters related to education, abortion, immigration, gun laws, poverty, economy, death penalty, religious freedom, health care, peace and order, public safety, equality and justice, tax reform, marriage, environmental responsibility and other issues affecting your well being and your community?

In his Suffolk News-Herald columns on Aug. 15 and Sep. 26, Joseph Bass stated that being informed is an American responsibility.

"Having educated, informed voters is a key element for a democracy to be effective," he wrote. "The people's votes can result in government going the right way or the wrong way."

He urged voters to pay attention to and investigate the qualifications of candidates, and "vote for the most qualified."

Well, after candidates have debated, campaigning is now in full swing. Placards, with their names in bold letters, are displayed in yards and along the streets.

Campaign workers are busier than ever, making phone calls and distributing campaign materials about their candidates. They're out there visiting house to house, convincing voters to vote for their candidates.

Political ads, notably from candidates for governor and attorney general, have been seen everywhere in social media, in print, on television and on the Internet.

These political ads are getting nasty and negative and, at times, misleading and confusing. Sometimes it seems that the more ads we're exposed to, the harder it is to tell what is factual and truthful.

Of course, candidates have their own agenda. They do what it takes to win, even to the point of resorting to mudslinging in order to disparage their opponents.

They bombard us with negative ads that are questionable and insulting to our intelligence.

Sometimes I just don't want to turn the television on, because I don't want to see any more of these paid political ads. i'm disappointed, disgusted and dismayed by what the candidates will do to destroy or discredit the other, just to win votes. Look what politics has become.

Voters, do your homework and research about the candidates. Find out what they have done for the common good. Get educated about them, and then decide whom you think will best lead the commonwealth and look after your well being and your community.

Focus on their track records as effective and efficient public servants who are committed to improve the economic condition, the dignity and worth of all people in the community.

Stick to the candidates who can get things done, the ones who consistently promote unity and inclusivity, peace and equality, without compromising their principles.

-Chris A. Quilpa, a retired U.S. Navy veteran, lives in Suffolk. Email him at chris.a.quilpa@gmail.com.

*Appeared in the Opinion page of the award-winning Suffolk News-Herald, Sunday, October 15, 2017. For more information, visit www.suffolknewsherald.com.

A letter to God regarding Las Vegas*

Dear God,

"At the outset, I thank you, dear Almighty God, that I'm alive and doing well. Thank you for my faith, family and friends near and far. I pray, "God bless all of us, and may you always keep us safe from harm. Make us a channel of your peace to everyone we come in contact with. And let us love you more as we try our best to love our family, friends and neighbors. Let peace reign in our heads and our hearts. All of this I ask through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen."

When I woke up Monday morning to National Public Radio's Morning Edition, I was saddened to hear of the tragic mass shooting incident in Las Vegas.

Singer Jason Aldean was performing Sunday night when the shooting occurred. Country star Jake Owen was also there on stage and witnessed the shooting.

Such a traumatic scenario. There was chaos and confusion, panic and fear.

As of this writing, dear God, nearly 60 people were killed and more than 500 were injured. Police have identified the shooter as Stephen Paddock, 64, a local resident, who took his own life as police closed in on his position.

Dear God, why? Why did this massacre happen? Why would a gunman disrupt a concert and inflict violence against people who were simply having a good time? Why did he do it, dear God? What was his motive? What made him do it? Was he mentally deranged? Was this an act of revenge or just merely an act to prove that we was powerful and fearless because of his weapons?

Was he under the influence of drugs and alcohol? Where, when and how did he get all his weapons? Why did he choose to attack that group of people? Who or what may have influenced him to perpetrate this shooting spree?

We search for answers, dear God. Please enlighten us who are shocked and saddened and devastated about this attack.

Lots of tragic incidents gun violence, dear God, have taken place in our country---Columbine, Sandy Hook, Virginia Tech and more. Why?

There are debates upon debates regarding gun laws, and yet people continue to be killed. These innocent victims had their lives cut short and their dreams unrealized because of bullets. They did not live their life to their full potentials because of bullets fired from guns.

Families are left helpless and hapless, torn and devastated. They mourn their loss without ceasing. Why, dear God? Why?

Dear God, please make us peace-loving and law-abiding people. Please make us vigilant and considerate, respectful, understanding and tolerant of others. Make us instruments of your goodness, peace and love.

May those victims and their families find peace, comfort and love. Thank you, dear and loving God.

Chris

-Chris A. Quilpa, a retired U.s. Navy veteran, lives in Suffolk. Email him at chris.a.quilpa@gmail.com.

*Appeared in the Opinion page of the award-winning Suffolk News-Herald, Thursday, October 5, 2017. For more information, visit www.suffolknewsherald.com.