Pangasinan, folks honor souls who guard home

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LINGAYEN– Before darkness descends on November 1, old folks here begin sprinkling fresh blood from native chicken around their homes as offering for the dead.

HALLOWEEN PARTY. Rep. Pol Bataoil (2nd District, Pangasinan)gamely dances with
his Zumba-Zombie dancers during the celebration
 of his Zumba group of the Halloween last October 
31 at the bay walk in the Capitol Compound in 
Lingayen,Pangasinan.

Hilly Santos, 78, said it has become customary for residents here to offer blood and light candles in every corner of their land for the souls that guard their homes.

“It is a tradition inherited from our forefathers,” she said.

She said the souls guarding their homes are ancestors dating back the Spanish era.

All Saints’ Day and Souls’ Day or “Undas” is a unique celebration in the Philippines observed by majority of Filipinos to remember the dead.

PRETTY FAIRY. Michelle, Rep.Bataoil Executive
Assistant, disguises as a fairy during
the solon's Halloween shindig.

The annual tradition of visiting the remains of loved ones offering flowers and lighting candles on their graves is still widely practiced to honor the souls of their dearly departed.

Some devout Catholics celebrate Undas with a nine-day novena before November 1 for the repose of souls of departed family members, forefathers and all known and unknown saints. (MCA/EMBS/PIA-1, Pangasinan)

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Pangasinan’s employment  office receives national award 

LINGAYEN - The Provincial Employment Service Office (PESO) of Pangasinan was recognized anew by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) as the 2013 National Best PESO for the 1st Class Provincial Category.

Alex Ferrer, chief of PESO Pangasinan, received the award during the 14th National PESO Congress held recently at the General Santos City with the theme “PESO for the ASEAN Integration, 2015 and Beyond.”

PESO Pangasinan was adjudged by the labor department for its efficiency, capability and better quality of work in terms of facilitating employment of jobseekers, serving as a labor market information, providing recruitment schedules, manpower pooling, job referral and placement, and other programs benefitting the people of the province.

Likewise, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan passed a resolution on Monday expressing sincere commendation and congratulations to PESO Pangasinan for the said feat and recognition.

“The national award garnered by PESO will serve as an inspiration and worthy example for all offices and employees of the provincial government in the province to strive for excellence in the performance of their respective work,” the resolution said. (PIA-1,Pangasinan)