Undas: The Ever-Changing Problem 'til Death
Undas: The Ever-Changing Problem 'til Death
By: Athena Morales, Khyrus Santos
Photo by: Dan Madrazo, Juan News
Rey, a 62 year-old cleaner in Sta. Maria Cemetery for almost 30 years, said that this work allows him to provide for his family. People like Rey depend on the death of people, as the more the deaths, the more food for his family. But just like any other, it is not always festive as in some days he can only bring home a kilo of rice, some instant noodles, and corn beef.
"Utang pa nga 'yan (pagpapalinis). Binibigyan lang ako isa-isang daan pang meryenda, tinitipid na lang talaga para mag kasya."
That is still debt from cleaning. They give me a hundred pesos for snacks, and I just save it so that it would fit the budget.
There is no definite salary but they are left with no choice but to do what they can do just to survive. Rey is one of the many "sepultureros" who makes sure to clean the tombs of our loved ones while struggling to live.
No one can escape the test of life, even the dead. The Sto. Rosario Public Cemetery in Hagonoy is submerged in water, and one can barely see names engraved in the tombs. No flowers. Not even a single candle lit.
Sto. Rosario Public Cemetery
Photo by: Emman Cruz, Juan News
Hagonoy is known for its neverending flood, as year by year the sea level rises by 2 inches, the result being the cemetery being abandoned for years. This is one of the biggest public cemeteries in Hagonoy and most of the residents who passed away were buried here. Losing a loved one is unimaginable but it is more heartbreaking to see the cemetery flooded like a river, and with it the bodies of the distant past.
Back in 2018, people could still visit the grave as sea levels were not as high as it is now. That was perhaps the last time they were able to bring flowers and light candles to the tombs of their relatives. With the pandemic and the sea levels joining forces, it more or less ensured the complete neglect of the cemetery.
Even with efforts from the local government, it has only been a bandage solution for this attack from nature, and so the cemetery has more or less been abandoned. Residents seem content to light their candles in the comfort of their homes. As to whether it is the ideal way to celebrate their loved ones, that is for the family to decide.
Not all is doom and gloom for this coming Undas. After, it is a celebration of the lives they have led and at the same time a time for the families' bond to be stronger than ever. It is, of course, a business opportunity for many.
Candle represents Undas
The candle is almost the symbol of Undas, and that would mean a rise in buying these for the coming days. But as one vendor puts it, as the Barangay and SK Election comes first, sales are quite low; such is also the case with the flower business.
The price would also seem to be an issue, as according to one vendor, even with business being better than ever, there seems to be "a five percent" increase owing to material and workers cost.
Undas is certainly a solemn holiday, a Christian celebration of saints and lives on earth. Look beyond the grave visits, the candle lighting, and all the other tropes of Undas, and see that there is more to the holiday: the urgency, the necessity, and the tragic and hopeful.
Back in 2018, people could still visit the grave as sea levels were not as high as it is now. That was perhaps the last time they were able to bring flowers and light candles to the tombs of their relatives. With the pandemic and the sea levels joining forces, it more or less ensured the complete neglect of the cemetery.
Even with efforts from the local government, it has only been a bandage solution for this attack from nature, and so the cemetery has more or less been abandoned. Residents seem content to light their candles in the comfort of their homes. As to whether it is the ideal way to celebrate their loved ones, that is for the family to decide.
Not all is doom and gloom for this coming Undas. After, it is a celebration of the lives they have led and at the same time a time for the families' bond to be stronger than ever. It is, of course, a business opportunity for many.
Candle represents Undas
The candle is almost the symbol of Undas, and that would mean a rise in buying these for the coming days. But as one vendor puts it, as the Barangay and SK Election comes first, sales are quite low; such is also the case with the flower business.
The price would also seem to be an issue, as according to one vendor, even with business being better than ever, there seems to be "a five percent" increase owing to material and workers cost.
Undas is certainly a solemn holiday, a Christian celebration of saints and lives on earth. Look beyond the grave visits, the candle lighting, and all the other tropes of Undas, and see that there is more to the holiday: the urgency, the necessity, and the tragic and hopeful.
.png)
.png)
Comments
Post a Comment