While the first and second days of November are the traditional time for remembering the departed loved ones, some observers of this Catholic custom will remember more the living during these days.

All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day cemetery goers, particularly those visiting the Manila North Cemetery, will remember the police officers manning the gates for confiscating their sharp garden tools to be used for cutting the growths around the graves, lighter for lighting candles, cigarettes and even bottled perfumes on Thursday. Such items are on the list of things banned by police for the safety of cemetery visitors.

Those outside the graveyard walls on 1 November were not spared from unforgettable “Undas” experience, like the 60 public utility vehicle drivers and conductors in Davao City that tested positive for drug use during the surprise random drug test dubbed “Undaspot” conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency at the Davao City Recreation Center on the eve of All Saints’ Day.

“Undaspot,” which aims to ensure public safety for travelers during the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, will even be more unforgettable to them if confirmatory tests show they did take illegal drugs as they will not be allowed to drive or travel and should undergo rehabilitation.

But remembering they got busted for their bad habits is better than ending up being the ones remembered on the day of the dead for going six feet under after succumbing to drug addiction.