54. REMEMBERING THE SOULS OF THE BELOVED DEATH

In Magalang, there are different customs and traditions pertaining to their love ones, who are departed. In this post, it will show some photographs and print ups that reminisce and remember the death of our love ones; and even the lost traditions in regards to the departed. 

Obituario

When the departed is rich, an obituario will publish in either local or national newspapers. A very good example of an obituario is the announcement of the death of Doña Concepcion M. Luciano, first wife of historian, Don Mariano A. Henson of Angeles, Pampanga. It was published in the Spanish daily, La Vanguardia dated April 10, 1935. When the dead is poor, their relatives and friends will eventually informed and they immediately go to the wake, to pay last respects for the dead. 

Recuerdo de Patay of dead old woman from Magalang

After the announcement of the departed, if the dead is poor, his/her remains will be put on their death bed or in a mat, and it will stay their for a day until his/her burial. If the dead is rich, the family will contracted the best funeral service, and the wake will last two or three days. A lost tradition, the corpse will be pictured and they will serve as their souvenirs for their relatives and friends. These pictures called recuerdo de patay will also used during the death anniversaries of the dead. They will put the dead pictures in front of the altar and they will lit two candles in each side; and the relatives will offer prayers for the soul of the dead. During the wake, relatives of the departed are often pray pasiyam or nine days of praying for the departed soul. Young boys and girls during the wake, will play bulaklakan and talubangan, which they will ask questions using riddles and their answers have double meanings. 

Funeral of Dr. Andres J. Luciano, 1959

When the remains of the departed is set to be buried, if the dead is poor, his/her remains will put to the  wooden coffin, which his/her relatives prepared it overnight. While the rich, are prefer to pay the services of funeral parlors to make the funeral more solemn and lavish.

Necrological Service at San Bartolome Church

The remains of the departed will eventually bring to the church for a requiem mass and blessing of the corpse. A plegaria will be took place, which they announce the departed. Unfortunately, this precious tradition of the Magaleños eventually stopped; and the last plegaria took place way back 2002! The plegaria is a sign expressed sorrow and grief over the loss of the loved ones through the tolls of church bells. If the departed is man, a low but powerful toll of the largest or stationary bell you will heard; while a thin and high pitched toll is for the female. The plegaria will eventually stop, as soon as the funeral procession is out of sight. The plegaria, by rule are only reserved for the adults. If the deceased is a child, the small bell is struck three times followed by one stroke of the big bell. This is repeated three times then followed by the alternate ringing of the small and big bell. The peal is remarkably joyous, signifying the innocence of the departed and his/her sure entry into heaven.

Tombstone of Agustin family

After the mass and blessing of the corpse, the funeral procession will continue all the way to the cemetery. A solemn and lavish procession will be happen, if the dead is rich. If the dead is poor, the priest will be called, and the blessing of the corpse will took place on his house, before the burial. And their remains will brought either to cementerio catolico or in the cementerio municipal for the burial of the dead. Sometimes, the dead, especially if he/she is a rich, will also buried inside the church; thus during earlier times, the thick walls and even the base of the retablo of San Bartolome Church also filled with lapidas, written in Spanish. During the major renovation of the church in 1960s, the remains of the dead were eventually transferred to the columbarium, in the backyard of the belfry. 

Invitation for the Death Anniversary of Doña Raymunda S. Lacson

And finally, when the death anniversary of the departed came; the rich will offer mass and they will prepare a banquet for their family members and friends. The poor likewise i said, they will put the dead pictures or recuerdos de patay in front of the altar and they will lit two candles in each side; and the relatives will offer prayers for the soul of the dead. A week before the daun, mangaladua or gosu will put place; when old folks are going to every household to ask alms for the dead; and all of the proceeds will be brought to the church, as offering for the mass to the dead. During daun or All Saints' Day, the relatives of the departed will be go to the cemetery, they will clear and repaint the tombstones and mausoleums, and they will lit candles, offer flowers and prayers for the souls of their beloved death. 

Photo Credits:

The funeral photo of the dead woman, Dr. Andres J. Luciano, and the invitation of the couple Andres P. Feliciano and Maria L. Paras, courtesy of Mrs. Josefina M. Castro.

The funeral of the unidentified person in front of San Bartolome Church, courtesy of Dr. Ignacio P. Morales. 

Obituario of Doña Concepcion Luciano de Henson, La Vanguardia, April 10, 1935.

Source:

Tantingco, Robby P., Caragatan: Love in Time of Death; https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10156393794963204&set=a.10152148866553204&type=3&theater, Retrieved: October 18, 2019.

Lingad-Mayrina, Kaye and Lingat, Arwin Paul A.;Tigtig Campana: For Whom the Bells Tolled, Flores para Los Frailes: The Augustinians in Pampanga, Singsing, Juan D. Nepomuceno Center of Kapampangan Studies, Holy Angel University, Sto. Rosario St., Angeles City.