Photo: Bagoto / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Philippine_graveyard,_All_Souls_Day.jpg)
Undas 2026 falls on Sunday, November 1 and Monday, November 2, and both are special non-working days. With Saturday, October 31 just before them, a lot of families will spend a long weekend going to the cemetery, the province or both. This checklist covers what to buy and pack before the trip: candles, flowers, cleaning supplies, baon, and the gear that makes a long day in the heat easier.
For dates, travel tips and cemetery schedules, see our Undas 2026 guide. If you are working on November 1 or 2, check our Undas 2026 holiday pay guide first.
Prices as of October 26, 2026, from the Shopee listings linked below. Shopee prices and vouchers change often, so check the price at checkout.
Before You Shop: What Cemeteries Ban This Undas
Check the rules first so you do not buy something the guards will take at the gate. At Manila North and Manila South cemeteries, firearms, knives and other sharp or dangerous items, alcoholic drinks, gambling and pets are not allowed, according to GMA News and Philstar. Manila North also bans flammable items such as alcohol and thinner, guitars and loud sound systems. Vehicles are banned inside both cemeteries from October 29 to November 2.
That changes the shopping list in three ways:
- Skip rubbing alcohol and thinner. Use wipes and water to clean the tomb instead.
- Skip the kitchen knife. Slice fruit and cut ulam at home, and pack plastic utensils.
- Pack light. With no cars allowed inside, you will carry everything from the gate, so a lunch bag and a foldable blanket beat a big cooler and chairs.
Rules differ in private memorial parks and provincial cemeteries, so ask the cemetery office or check its page before you go.
The Undas 2026 Checklist
We may earn a commission from Shopee links.
1. Candles: LED Tealights
LED tealights do not drip, stay lit in the wind and are safe around kids, flowers and tents. They also last the whole weekend on one set of batteries. If you still want wax candles, put them in a glass holder and keep them away from flower wrappers.
Shop: AT HOME LED Tealight Candles (set of 3) on Shopee
Shopee price: ~₱83 on Shopee
2. Flowers: Fresh, or Artificial for the Long Weekend
Fresh flowers are cheapest from the stalls near the cemetery a few days before November 1, and prices usually rise as the date gets close. Artificial flowers cost more up front but survive the heat and can stay on the tomb after Undas.
Shop: Artificial carnation bouquet (11 heads) on Shopee
Shopee price: ~₱79 on Shopee
3. Grave-Cleaning Supplies
Most public cemeteries close tomb cleaning days before Undas; Manila North, for example, set October 27 as the last day, according to GMA News and our Undas guide. A stiff brush, a pail of water and wipes are all you need for marble and tiles. Do not bring thinner or alcohol.
Shop: Scotch-Brite Tile and Grout Brush on Shopee
Shopee price: ~₱147 on Shopee
4. Baon: Sealed Containers and a Lunch Bag
Food sits in the heat for hours, so use containers that seal and keep rice and ulam separate. Cook and slice everything at home, and pack plastic utensils, paper plates and a trash bag. Canned food is easy baon too; our canned beans guide has budget protein ideas.
Shop: LocknLock Stainless Lunch Box with Divider on Shopee
Shopee price: ~₱2,398 on Shopee
5. Cold Water and Drinks
Bring more water than you think. An insulated bottle keeps water cold through the afternoon, and a small ice box works for a family if you can carry it from the gate.
Shop: Aquaflask 22oz Wide Mouth on Shopee
Shopee price: ~₱700 on Shopee
Shop: Orocan Ice Chest 15L on Shopee
Shopee price: ~₱901 on Shopee
6. Umbrella for Sun and Rain
Early November can bring both hot sun and afternoon rain. A sturdy umbrella does double duty as shade while you sit by the tomb.
Shop: Decathlon Inesis Profilter Micro umbrella on Shopee
Shopee price: ~₱700 on Shopee
7. Handheld Fan
Crowded cemeteries get hot by mid-morning. A rechargeable fan helps kids and older relatives, and it is quieter than the loud sound systems Manila North does not allow.
8. Power Bank
You will use your phone for maps, ride-hailing and finding relatives in the crowd. A 20,000 to 30,000mAh power bank can charge several phones over a long day.
Shop: Romoss Sense 8P Plus 30000mAh on Shopee
Shopee price: ~₱1,267 on Shopee
9. Something to Sit On
Benches go fast. A picnic blanket folds small, is easy to carry from the gate and gives the family a clean spot to eat.
Long-Weekend Travel Tips
- Go early or late. Crowds peak on November 1. Visit on October 31 or early on November 2 if you can.
- Take the train near Manila North. The nearest LRT-1 stations are Abad Santos and Blumentritt, per our Undas guide.
- Book provincial trips now. Bus tickets and seats sell out before a long weekend.
- Carry it all yourself. With the vehicle ban, everything goes in by hand. A foldable trolley helps if you bring water and food for a big family.
- Keep valuables close. Use a sling bag in front and keep cash in small bills.
Quick Checklist
- LED candles or wax candles with glass holders
- Fresh or artificial flowers
- Brush, pail, wipes and trash bags (no alcohol or thinner)
- Baon in sealed containers, plastic utensils, paper plates
- Water, insulated bottle, small ice box
- Umbrella, fan, hat and sunscreen
- Power bank and cables
- Blanket or mat
- ID, small bills and a basic first-aid kit
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Undas 2026?
Undas falls on Sunday, November 1 and Monday, November 2, 2026. Both days are special non-working days under Proclamation No. 1006, s. 2025. With Saturday, October 31 before them, many families get a three-day weekend.
What items are banned at Manila North and Manila South cemeteries?
Both cemeteries ban firearms, knives and other sharp or dangerous items, alcoholic drinks, gambling and pets, according to GMA News and Philstar. Manila North also lists flammable items such as alcohol and thinner, guitars and loud sound systems. Other cemeteries set their own rules, so check with the cemetery office before you go.
Can I bring a car to Manila North or Manila South Cemetery?
No. Both cemeteries ban vehicles inside from October 29 to November 2, 2026. Park outside or take the train and walk the last stretch.
Are LED candles better than wax candles for Undas?
LED candles do not drip, do not go out in the wind and do not burn hands, so they are the safer pick for kids and crowded grave sites. Wax candles are still common; if you light them, keep them in a glass holder away from flowers and tents.
What should I pack for a whole day at the cemetery?
Water and cold drinks, baon in sealed containers, an umbrella, a fan, a power bank, a mat or blanket to sit on, trash bags, wipes and a small cleaning brush if you have not cleaned the tomb yet. Leave knives, alcohol and flammables at home.
Sources
- Proclamation No. 1006, s. 2025 (Supreme Court E-Library): November 1 and 2, 2026 special non-working days
- GMA News, Oct 11, 2026: Manila North Cemetery Undas rules and cleaning deadline
- Philstar, Oct 9, 2026: Manila North, South cemeteries gear up for Undas
- GMA News: Government cemeteries prepare for Undas 2026
- Shopee listings linked above (prices checked Oct 26, 2026)
No brand paid for placement in this guide. Spotted a price change or an error? Email us and we will correct it with a dated note.
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