Undas — All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day on November 1 and 2 — is almost here. It is one of the biggest homecoming periods of the year in the Philippines, when families gather at cemeteries, and the flow of people around the city starts to change several days in advance. On October 15, the Philippine National Police announced a plan to deploy more than 111,000 officers and force multipliers to cemeteries and columbaria nationwide. The daytime traffic and the big-picture numbers are a nationwide story, so we leave those to our sister site, Manila Info Lab. Here we focus only on what it means for your night out, area by area.
The first thing to know is that selling and bringing alcohol near cemeteries is temporarily banned. Cities such as Manila and Pasay issue a liquor ban around cemeteries every year during the Undas period. The Manila North and South Cemeteries sit right next to Malate, so expect more road closures and checkpoints on the streets facing the cemeteries. If you plan to drink in Malate, it is safer to avoid the blocks closest to the cemeteries and pick venues deeper inside the main entertainment strip.
Makati & P.Burgos — Fewer crowds, but a harder ride home
Around Poblacion and P.Burgos in Makati, foot traffic usually eases on and around the Undas days. Local customers head to the provinces, so while most venues stay open, some cut staff and close early. The real headache is getting home. Cars heading out to the provinces clog EDSA and Gil Puyat Ave. from early in the evening, and late-night Grabs get hard to catch.
In practice, the main roads get heavier even before Undas itself. Makati’s official city traffic account posts these jams in real time. As of October 15, it was reporting slow traffic on Gil Puyat Ave. from the Kalayaan Flyover toward Paseo de Roxas. If you plan to use that road at night, a quick look at its latest posts before heading out will help you read the flow.
What you can do tonight
The plan is simple. First, book your ride before last call. There are fewer cars late at night, so if you wait until you are done drinking, you will be stuck waiting. Second, carry a little extra cash. Meters climb in traffic and ride-hailing surge prices tend to rise. And always keep your ID on you, since there are more checkpoints around cemeteries at this time of year and smooth passage is easier for everyone.
On the actual Undas days, November 1 and 2, the entertainment districts can turn quiet — a kind of “gap night.” For anyone who wants a relaxed drink away from the crowds, it can be a surprisingly good window. For the full picture on nationwide traffic schemes and the homecoming rush, see Manila Info Lab as well.