DEATH BELIEFS

AND PRACTICES
From the Aklanon
Tradition
 PRACTICAL BELIEFS
VS
SUPERSTITIOUS BELIEFS
Things outside of logical explanations
and often based on supernatural, and
spiritual beliefs regarding the dead.
things outside of logical explanations and often based on supernatural, and spiritual beliefs regarding the dead.
Majority of the Aklanon traditions
on death is heavily influenced by
catholicism that is brought by the
colonial spaniards
Upon the priest’s instruction the sacristan
would toll the bells. The purpose of this is to
inform people in the community that
somebody had died. The townspeople who
would hear the tolling of the bells are expected
to pray for the repose of the soul of the dead.
Back then a deceased person is immediately
buried 24 hours after death, this is to avoid
any complications in the process of
decomposition since no embalming has been
done to the body.
During the wake, people in the community
and members of the family from far away
would come home to pay their last respects.
Usually they would give alms or abuloy.
Others would give food.
In Burols or wakes, there are
games usually played by the
visitors or those who attend.
“Bordon de las bordon,
singsing papanawa Andar de las singsing.
Singsing de los andar
Dalia sa pagpalakat Andar de los singsing
Singsing sa pagpadapat Singsing de los andar.
Basi kon malipat Singsing papanawa
Isa ka makawat. Palibot-libota
Mentras makadangat
While this song is being sung, the hands of
the participants are moved back and forth,
bluffling the person in the middle as to who is
holding the singsing. The singsing here is
anything from stone to marble.
The singsing here is anything from stone to
marble. From time to time, the participant at
the middle would grasp the hands of the
participants to catch the singsing. Whoever is
caught holding the singsing will be punished
by making him recite a ditso or a luwa
These games are rarely played now
during the wake. What are popular in
the later days now are mahjong,
tumbo, and card games like pusoy
dos and lucky nine.
Prayer vigils or orasyon are
held in the wake of the dead,
most of whom are elders in the
community who pray or chants
for the spirit’s wellness
SUPERSTITIONS
When there is death in the family,
they are expected to mourn by
wearing black clothes. Others would
wear black ribbons.
Another practice of mourning is by hanging a
black cloth on the window facing the street.
Members of the family are not allowed to take
a bath until after the burial. They are not
allowed to sweep the floor also. This is to
prevent another death in the family .
It is also believed that with shoes on, the
journey of the dead will be difficult and he
will be damned in hell so the deceased is
not allowed to wear shoes, only socks.
Mass is offered for the repose of his
soul if the cause of the death is
suicide, the priest will not allow the
dead to be brought inside the church.
It is understood that no tears should
drop on the deceased’s face because it
will only make his journey difficult
and will cause bad luck to the family.
Upon reaching the cemetery, the
coffin is again opened for the last
time. Here, people would come very
close to the coffin, particularly the
immediate members of the family.
Upon leaving the cemetery, mourners would
wash their hands on water with guava leaves
or lime. This is done to prevent any illness
that would befall the mourners’ family
From the day of the funeral, a nine-day
novena is held. People in the neighborhood
would come to pray, play, and so to gamble.
As usual, the bereaved family serves drinks
and foods to those who come.
The whole process from the funeral
to burial is a heavy burden to a
family especially to the less
fortunate ones, not just the grieving
but also the financial toll it takes.
RUBRICS:
Preparation 15%
Objectives 35%
Creativity 30%
Performance 20%
TOTAL 100%
END.