No two human beings are the same. We have our own unique characteristics that makes us special.

Even our fingerprints are unique. On a global scale, we have different genders, races, religions, etc. But
in spite all of that, we are all humans and it is our nature to reach the ultimate part of our lives on earth
– death. We may have different ways of dying but yes, we are going to die someday. However we
believe that death is not the end, that there is life after death so we still pay respect to the dead. During
their last moments with us, we still make sure that everything is in order. In line with that are the
superstitions that some people still believe until.

A. COMMON SUPERSTITIONS
1. Do not sweep the floor during a wake
This is one of the most common belief of Filipinos. We believe that death is not the end. The
soul of the dead is still there for some time to look for his/her mourning relatives. If you
sweep the floor, it means you are driving the spirit away.
“Kahit wala na sila physically, nagbabantay parin sila kaya pag pinalayas natin sila,
masasaktan parin sila at mahihirapan na makapunta sa pupuntahan nila.”
-Celerina Gojar, 54, Preschool Teacher

(Plus, during a wake, people keep coming to visit the dead. Along with the people are dust,
dirt and other trashes. Even if you keep on sweeping the floor, the dirt will come back. Your
effort will just be wasted)

2. Do not bring home the foods served at the funeral

During fiestas and other celebrations, it is normal for Filipinos to bring home foods.
However, it is a different story for a wake. If you do it, you will also bring home bad luck.
“Magkaiba kasi ang fiesta at burol. Sa fiesta, masaya. Sa burol, may mga nangungulila. Bilang
respeto na din sa nagluluksang pamilya.Kasi ” Floricel Gojar, Highschool Teacher

( Yes, I guess respect is the main issue here. Don’t you think it’s to much if you dine-in and
you still have to take out? )

3. Do not go home straight after going to a wake.

This belief is also called pagpag. Before going home, you should visit the park, the mall, or
anywhere. Don’t go home just yet because. Death is a negative thing for us and if you go
home immediately, the negativities will be with you. It is bad luck in other words.
“ Basta malas daw yan. Wala naming mawawala kung susundin mo. Try mo lang naman.”
Viel Ann Delmonte, 20, Accountancy Student

4. Immediately change clothes when you reach home from a wake.

Again, it is bad luck if you roam around the house wearing your clothes that you just used
from going to a wake.
“Yun nga, malas daw kaya wag nang gawin. And besides, upon reaching home, kelangan mo
naman talaga magpalit. Baka pinawisan ka na. *laughs*”
Viel Ann Delmonte, 20, Accountancy Student
 (You don’t want to wear dirty clothes right? I guess changing clothes is really a must after
going to a wake, or any public place. You will never know how many germs are there. There
are a lot of people and you’re not sure if some of them have communicable diseases so do
not just change clothes – take a bath too.)

5. Avoid tears from falling to the casket.

If tears fall to the casket, the spirit of the dead will have a difficulty in going to the afterlife.
“Kahit patay nay an, nakikita padin nila tayo. Tapos pag natuluan ng luha natin ang kabaong,
mas mabibigatan pa sila dahil mas mararamdaman nila ang pagluluksa natin. Ayaw nilang
iwan tayo na malungkot.”
Belen Gosgolan, 68, Retired teacher

6. Pagmamano is not allowed during a wake

We Filipinos are naturally respectful to the elders and the tradition of pagmamano is a very
good thing. However, this tradition is prohibited in a wake. Why? Bad luck
“Pwede mo naming ipakita ang pagrespeto sa mga kamag anak mo kahit hindi ka magmano.
Pwede naman kahit humalik nalang.”
Bernardita Lagata, 59, Housewife

(If you go to a wake, many of your relatives will be there. Most of them are familiar to you
but some are just strangers that you are not aware that they are also family. If you only
bless to the ones you know, some will think that you don’t respect them)

7. Do not wear red clothes during a wake

The color red is a color of happiness, definitely not suited for mourning. If you wear that
color in a wake, it means you are celebrating for the death of the dead one.
“Kailangan irespeto padin ang patay at mas lalo ang pamilyang nagluluksa. Pag nagsuot ka
ng pula sa burol, kawalan ito ng respeto.”
Susan Otivar, 58, Highschool teacher

(Just a story: when I was a child my mother made me believe that wearing red during a wake
will make the dead open her eyes. And up until now, that is the reason why I wouldn’t want
to wear red during a wake.)

8. Do not wear shoes to the dead.

Some people believe that if the dead wears shoes, it will be more difficult for him/her to go
to the afterlife because the shoes is an additional weight. Some people just believe that if
the dead wears shoes, you will hear the footsteps of the spirit.
“Kasi kapag may sapatos sila, mas bibigat sa pagdala papunta sa kabilang buhay.”
Lucile Placer, 71, Church worker
9. No one else is allowed to sit in the chair reserved for the widow.
During the wake, a chair will be reserved for the widow. It is located near the coffin for
welcoming visitors. Only the widow is allowed to sit here because anyone else who sits
there will lose his/her partner too.
“Nilagyan ko pa nga ng signage na bawal umupo dun sa upuan para sigurado na walang
uupo dun. “
Mary Jane Jano, 28, Widow

(Another story: when the husband of Mary Jane died, another widow sat on that chair.
Everyone panicked until they realized there is no one to lose. Her partner is already dead
too.)

10. Put chicks on the coffin if the dead was killed in a crime
I’ve never actually seen this practice because I don’t know of someone who were killed in a
crime. This is done so that the suspect will feel guilty of the crime and therefore surrender.
“Para makonsensya ang criminal at sumuko”.
Melba Gloriane, 60, college professor

11. Pregnant women are not allowed to go to a wake.

It is bad luck to both the mother and the baby. The mother will give birth to a premature
baby or worst, the baby might die inside the womb.
“Di lang isang buuhay ang nakasalalay dito kaya mas mabuti nang sundin nalang.
Nakakatakot naman kasi.”
Melba Gloriane, 60, college professor

(It is normal in wakes that there are a lot of people. The crowd can be dangerous to a
pregnant woman because the tummy of the pregnant woman might be hit and that could
really be dangerous)

CREEPY SUPERSTITIONS

12. Dreaming about losing a tooth means death of someone close to you.
This is the last thing I want to dream about. I have heard this even as a child and back then, I
was really terrified. Now I’m still terrified though.

13. When the dog howls in a creepy way, it means someone will die soon.
I really like dogs but I get spooked when they howl especially at night. This was told by my
mother when I was a kid and it is really hard to outgrow no matter how hard I try to
convince myself that it is normal for dogs to howl. It is scarier to hear a cat howl.
 14. If you hear an owl during the night, someone near will die soon.
I live in a barangay located a few kilometer from my hometown’s center of commerce. It is a
semi-rural are with a lot of trees and a lot of owls. However, we can only hear owls several
times a year and true enough, most of the times when an owl makes its creepy sound,
someone in the barangay dies.

15. If you see someone without his/her head, that person will die.
OK. Literally speaking, everyone will die but this just scares me a lot. I don’t want to
experience this one. I might feel like it is my fault if that person really dies

While it is true that “walang mawawala kung maniniwala tayo” , these superstitions are creepy.
However if we accidentally defy these rules, there’s nothing to be afraid of. Prayer is the best thing to
keep us from harm and bad luck.