PHILIPPINE burial customs can be exotic, out-of this world. or macabre As with other peoples on this planet. Filipinos have different ways of burying their dead — some Jovous. others involving a lot of crying and lamentations.

They all. of course, showcase the natives various beliefs about death — and the afterlife

In Palawan, for instance, residents of Cagayancillo Island never bury their dead on a Sunday It is their belief that to do so would bring a series of misfortunes to the bereaved family In contrast, inhabitants of Malbon In Metro Manila and other btg towns In the neighbouring province of Rizal make it a point to hold burial rites on a Sunday

The Negritos of Dao. Antique and Iriga. Camarines Sur sing and dance for several nights before burying the dead tn the belief that music and merriment will open the gates of heaven for their dear departed. Death, according to them, is something to be happy about, never a cause for crying

On the other hand, in the town of La Paz. Tarlac. and neighbouring areas. It is the custom to lift over the coffin of the dead all the grandchildren "so that his spirit would not haunt the living."

During a burial, ft Is common practice to toss stones or flowers into the grave so that the dead could rest in peace. However, there is a rule to be strictly followed by pregnant women — they must leave the

cemetery right before the burial lest they suffer labour pains

A death Inspires housecleaning among the Bontoc Igorots. a cultural community . in the northern Philippine Mountain Province. The corpse is covered first as ft is believed that should an object fall while the deceased Iles in state, another death within the family Is likely to occur.

In the Bfeol region south of Manila, especially in the province of Albay. it is the practice to sprinkle the mourners with water. In Bulan. Sorsogon. also in the same region. the gold teeth of the dead are extracted prior to the burial. Sorsogon inhabitants consider gold teeth as a sign of vanity. They believe that unless they are removed, the dead person would not be able to enter heaven or attain "life everlasting."

The people of Tarangnan in Eastern Vlsavas. in central Philippines, keep a close watch on their dead lest supernatural beings like aswang. or witch, snatch them and replace the body with a banana trunk.

By the same token. In Basey. Samar, also In the same area, the corpse is under watchful eyes for fear that the devil will get its soul. After the burial, no one is to look back at

the grave. Anyone who does, they believe, will be haunted by the ghost of the deceased for several days and nights

Ilocanos. who live In north ern Philippines, believe death is always an occasion for u gathering of people. Kin. neighbours, friends and other sympathizers pay tribute to the deceased by bringing wreaths. They talk of his paat. of his good deeds. Native pastries are ordinarily served on this occasion — different kinds of rice cakes mainly. Others are given a choice between bast (the premium llocano wine) and dinuba (self-rolled cigars), or both.

The Pagobos. a cultural community in the southern Philippine Island of Mindanao, bury their dead under the house. The mourning period lasts for a year during which the family wears old clothes, eats sparingly and avoids any form of leisure.

Other ethnic groups like the Aetas, a Nagrito tribe, of the province of Zambales. Mandayas of Davao and Mangyans of Sibuyan Island do not only abandon the house of. the dead person but burn it.

Leaving the house of the deceased is also practised among the Mamanwas of Surigao. Tabangos of Leyte and Imbatugs of Bukidnon.

In Baruauan. Leyte, the cof-

fin when removed from the house for the burial has to pass through the window, not through the door. Great care is taken so that it does not touch any part of the window Residents of the place claim that the soul of the deceased will rest in peace only If he Is removed from the house through the window.

In the province of Antique, a strange custom is observed when the mother of a family dies. The youngest child is •trapped for 24 hours to the bed of the dead mother According to the people of Antique, if thia practice is not observed, the spirit of the mother will come to take the child to the other world.

An ancient custom of wives rolling over their husbands graves is still practised by some widows In Lipa. Batangas Aa the woman rolls over the grave, she vows never to marry again. From the cemetery, she goes straight home, locks her self In and refrains from talk Ing or seeing anyone for four days

For the people of Arevalo. Iloilo, combing the hair while the corpse Is still In the house is a bad omen, ft is believed that whoever does so will also die. In Migao, Iloilo, lively music accompanies a child's cortege: a dirge Is sting for a dead adult.

After the burial, tn Maragayap. La Union, the sur vtvors take turns Jumping over the grave. They believe that doing this will give them long life.

— Depthnews Asia