Earlier than Undas, Cebu residents in quake-hit metropolis select custom to honor their useless

‘Mintras buhi pa ko, dili nako kalimtan amongst mga ginikanan (Whereas I’m nonetheless alive, I gained’t overlook our mother and father),’ Bogo Metropolis resident Lourdes Opora says

CEBU, Philippines – It has not been a simple October for Bogo Metropolis native Lourdes Opora and her household.

Like many residents within the northern components of Cebu, Opora has no alternative however to remain in tent cities as a magnitude 6.9 earthquake that hit the province on September 30 left them rattled and unable to belief the durability of their dwelling.

At current, she lives in one of many tent cities within the metropolis that homes a whole bunch extra of earthquake victims and their households who both haven’t any extra houses to return to or — for their very own security — sleep dangerously in tents alongside thoroughfares at night time.

Regardless of their circumstance, it’s of utmost significance for Opora and her different members of the family to pay respects to her mother and father who’ve already handed.

“Bisag natrahedya na mi, amo gyud gibisitahan amongst mga ginikanan kay dili man gyud mi matawo og wa mi amahan ug inahan,” Opora informed Rappler on Tuesday, October 28.

(Even when a tragedy has occurred, we actually be sure that to go to our mother and father as a result of we wouldn’t be alive if it weren’t for our father and mom.)

Behind the New Corazon Cemetery, she and a few of her siblings repaint and patch up a small hut comprised of metal rods, corrugated sheets, and plywood. On this small stilted construction are the stays of their departed family members.

Payag-payag

Payag-payag is a long-standing custom within the northern components of Cebu, particularly in Bogo Metropolis. It entails the inserting of the skeletal stays of the deceased in small shed-like constructions that resemble a miniature home.

This apply has been round for many years, in accordance with locals visiting the New Corazon Cemetery.

Opora defined that for some households who can’t afford the brand new columbaries and bone chambers that would price round P15,000 for 5 years, for this “little dwelling,” they solely have to spend P10,000.

The most effective half? They will maintain the stays of each departed member of the family in a single place, slightly than pay for separate tombs which are prone to be situated in other places because of restricted availability.

An endearing a part of the custom is the act of constructing the payag.

“Ang payag-payag man gyud kay kana bitaw kamo jud mismo mubuhat (The payag-payag is admittedly one thing that you simply personally construct),” Bogo Metropolis resident Christal Jane Balunan informed Rappler on Tuesday afternoon, October 28.

This 12 months, the Balunans got here collectively as a household on the cemetery and determined to shell out P2,000 with the intention to renovate the payag of their late grandmother. 

“Balay unhappy na nila bisan pa mga bukog na lang (It’s nonetheless their dwelling regardless that they’re simply bones),” Balunan mentioned.

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Withstanding catastrophe

Within the aftermath of the earthquake, a whole bunch of tombs in northern Cebu’s cemeteries collapsed and had been additional destroyed by persistent aftershocks within the space.

New Corazon Cemetery caretaker and Barangay Sambag Councilor Celestino Bentulan informed Rappler that they’ve but to complete accounting for the injury to the bone chambers and columbariums within the cemetery.

Bentulan shared that a lot of the skeletal stays that they salvaged from the destroyed bone chambers and columbariums needed to be put in a standard space so residents can nonetheless go to them in some way regardless that they’ll now not be recognized.

“Nagpayag-payag na lang ang uban kay dili man musugot mabutang sa frequent space kay mga minahal man na nila (There are those that select to have payag-payag as a result of they don’t agree with inserting their family members within the frequent space),” Bentulan mentioned.

Opora famous that after they returned to verify on their household’s payag-payag, it remained intact versus the destroyed tombs.

A lot of the small huts are constructed with sturdy bamboo wooden and positioned in an open space.

Balunan highlighted that it was frequent for the residents to go to the payag-payag each Monday, not simply to mild some candles but additionally to often verify on the construction.

Even within the afterlife

Because the celebration of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day drew close to, Opora shared that moreover needing to repair the payag, their household wished the souls of their family members know that they had been now not staying of their home.

“Amo silang imbitaran aron inig ka-Kalag-kalag. Muingon mi, Ma, Pa, adto mo sa tent metropolis kay tua mi didto (We’re inviting them for All Souls’ Day. We’ll inform them, Ma, Pa, go to the tent metropolis as a result of that’s the place we’ll be),” she mentioned.

She added that their journey to the cemetery was much more particular as a result of their mother and father visited their household “of their goals” to remind them that it was virtually time for his or her annual reunion on the cemetery.

This 12 months, their household, even after the earthquake, obtained collectively to repair their mother and father’ payag, ensuring to wipe away the filth and blow the mud off. 

“Mintras buhi pa ko, dili nako kalimtan amongst mga ginikanan (Whereas I’m nonetheless alive, I gained’t overlook our mother and father),” Opora mentioned. – Rappler.com