CBCP official says Halloween is non-Christian celebration

An official of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines discouraged the faithful from joining the festivities on Halloween, saying that it is a a non-Christian or secular practice that does not say anything about the celebration of life.

Bishop Broderick Pabillo, chairman of CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Laity, said that Halloween activities, highlighted by the wearing of scary costumes, are not Christian celebrations. 

"Ang Halloween ay hindi 'yan Christian celebration [as it is] a 'celebration of death'. Yung mga nakakatakot na mukha, mga demonyo hindi yan maka-Kristiyanong celebration at 'yan yung ginagamit ng 'secularism'," he said in an interview over Church-run Radio Veritas on Saturday.

At the same time, he encouraged the faithful to instead hold a "parade of saints," with children dressed up as saints.

Catholic parishes in Metro Manila and other provinces that are popularizing the All Saints' Day "parade of saints" include: St. Peter and Paul Parish in Makati; Ascencion of Our Lord sa Paranaque; San Antonio De Padua, Marikina; Sta. Cruz Parish in Caloocan; Nuestra Señora Dela Paz Y Buenviaje, Bacoor, Cavite; Sta. Cecilia in Maly, Pangasinan San Roque Catholic School, Mother of Mercy Loma De Gato and St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Marilao, Bulacan.

Data from the Catholic Church showed that there are 10,000 saints. The first to be canonized by a Pope was St. Ulrich of Augsburg, anointed by Pope John XV in the year 993.

The Catholic prelate also hopes that people will pray for their dearly departed during the religious event.

"Ano ba ang dala-dala natin? Bulaklak. Bulaklak is a sign of life, nagdadala rin tayo ng kandila, yan din ay sign of life may liwanag. Tapos nagdadala rin tayo ng pagkain again sign of life. It is really a celebration of life. Life na gusto natin na ang mga yumao natin ay pumunta na sa langit kaya ipinagdarasal natin sila," he said.

"Sana po ay pumunta tayo sa sementeryo para alalahanin at ipagdasal ang mga yumao," Pabillo added. —LBG, GMA News