Filipinos working in Gulf countries have found creative ways to observe Undas, a significant Filipino holiday dedicated to honoring deceased loved ones, despite being physically distant from their families and hometowns. Undas is traditionally observed on November 1 and 2, coinciding with All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, when families in the Philippines visit cemeteries to clean and decorate graves, offer flowers, pray, and share food in memory of their ancestors.

For many overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, the inability to attend physical grave visits has led to the development of alternative customs that preserve the spirit of the observance. Salvador Cabanilla III, who has been working in Saudi Arabia for nearly two decades, follows the Ilocano tradition of atang, which involves offering food to the departed. Each year on October 31, he prepares his late parents’ favorite rice cakes, placing them on a table alongside their photographs, lighting candles, and saying prayers. He also watches old family videos to reconnect with past memories. To maintain a connection with relatives in the Philippines, Cabanilla joins them via video call as they visit the cemetery, sharing stories and laughter despite the distance.

Similarly, Ronald Manengo, an accountant based in Alkhobar, Saudi Arabia, described how his ways of commemorating Undas evolved after the passing of his mother in 2016. He began setting up a personal altar in his residence, featuring a picture of his mother, flowers, and candles. After his father’s death in 2022, Manengo expanded the altar to include his father’s photo and started allocating funds to ensure candles and offerings are also provided for other relatives whose graves the family cannot regularly visit. He sends money to the Philippines to help continue the tradition on behalf of his family, underscoring the importance of maintaining connections and expressing love for departed family members despite geographical separation.

In Kuwait, Marni Nina Del Mundo, who has been away from the Philippines for over a decade, commemorates Undas by preparing traditional Filipino dishes such as rice noodles and kakanin, attending church masses, and lighting candles with her family at home in Salmiya City. Although unable to join the customary cemetery visits, she upholds the observance in ways that reflect Filipino cultural and religious practices.

These adaptations demonstrate how Filipino expatriates in the Gulf have embraced technology, modified rituals, and created new practices to keep Undas meaningful while navigating the constraints of living abroad. Through prayers, offerings, video calls, and shared memories, Filipino workers continue to honor their departed loved ones, maintaining a vital link to their heritage and family traditions.