Meeting Mortality

Filipino death culture in a Traditional Roman Catholic perspective By: Mervin Manaois | Date published: January 5, 2024   Paranaque City residents playing cards at a funeral wake. (Image Courtesy: Erik De Castro, Reuters) Amid the Christmas cheers and carols, people celebrate the season differently, where someone departing can be a reflection of mortality and a celebration of life. Marcus Concina, a Roman Catholic and Postulant of the Archconfraternity of St. Stephen of Our Lady of Victories Church said that Filipinos tend to deal with death somewhat lightheartedly because after death is a life after it, all thanks to our Catholic milieu. It is as if death is one of the catalysts which brings families together. It is ironic if you think about it; we celebrate someone’s life once they are gone. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority report released last February 2023 , there were an average of 2,409 registered deaths per day in the Philippines in 2021. The average is equiv...