San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
FILIPINO RITUALS INVOLVE THESE THREE THINGS
It’s been a year since the first COVID-19 cases were reported in the U.S., and nearly 29 million Americans have fallen sick and more than 520,000 have fallen prey to this contagious disease. What’s made all of these deaths especially cruel is that the soc
Shulman is senior rabbi of Congregation Beth El in La Jolla and a member of The San Diego Union-tribune’s Community Advisory Board. He lives in La Jolla.
As an immigrant from the Philippines, I know firsthand how superstitious Filipinos are as a whole. Many of those superstitions are rooted in pre-colonial beliefs and practices as well as the influence of Spaniards who occupied our country for nearly 400 years.
This has shaped our beliefs, customs and rituals when it comes to death.
Filipinos, especially those who practice Catholicism, approach the death of a family member or friend with cultural and religious reverence and respect. And here in San Diego, Filipino Americans are no different. These rituals typically involve three things: communal mourning, superstition and food.
Due to different cultures from various regions in the Philippines, many Filipinos have different burial practices, which have evolved over the years. For example, some Filipino Americans hold vigils and wakes in their own homes for three to seven days, often 24 hours a day, allowing visitors to mourn together at anytime. And of course, no Filipino wake comes without massive amounts of food — pancit, lumpia, rice, adobo, kare kare and sweet rice cakes known as bibingka.
Also, from the time of death begins nine
Hassane is imam and director of Islamic Center of San Diego, and lives in Clairemont.
consecutive days of Rosary for the Dead, also known as Novena prayers. The nine days are based on Catholic teachings. During this time, the family invites other family and friends to pray and mourn together, often followed by the sharing of more food. Communal mourning is part of the grieving process.
As Catholics, we partake in another very special and meaningful tradition — the cutting of the rosary. We place a rosary in the hands of the deceased before burial. Usually a family member or close friend cuts the rosary held by the deceased in the belief that another death in the family will not follow.
Those who are very superstitious and afraid of ghosts may wear the color red to drive the loved one’s spirit away. However, most Filipinos will wear black clothes as a sign of mourning until the one-year anniversary of the loved one’s passing. This tradition is followed by both the young and old.
We also have a superstition known as Pagpag, the shaking off the dust and dirt from the burial. This is done by going to eat with other mourners at a restaurant instead of going directly home. This keeps us from bringing the dust of death back home as well as the spirit of the dead. And to that end, we never bring flowers home from the funeral as it’s believed to bring bad luck.
Another custom is passing our young children over the coffin before burial. It is an ancient ritual to ensure the deceased spirit leaves the children alone.
On the 40th day after a loved one’s death, another Mass and prayers are offered as a big send-off to heaven. It is believed that the spirit remains wandering 40 days on Earth visiting family and friends as well as favorite places while the deceased was alive. It is also a time for the deceased to tie up loose ends.
Unfortunately, these rituals and customs have been playing out in our community more than usual given the high number of COVID-19 cases impacting the Filipino community.