Fortunate and unfortunate deaths

HAPPY WEEKEND

Gina Dizon

SAGADA, Mountain Province -- ‘Nagasat si ______tay natey ay egay kacovid’ (____is lucky as she/he died with no Covid infection) is often a remark here referring to those who died with no Covid infection. 

Their wakes which lasted for two to three days and nights were attended by relatives and friends who delivered chants, songs and said their respects.  
     Aside from birth, death is a most momentous event on the life of a human being. So the necessary cultural rituals that go with these in this culture-rich town of Sagada, death rituals are done with butchering of pigs and chickens, chants by the amam-a  (elder men)  and songs and eulogies by relatives and the community as they let the soul of the dead join those who went earlier to the other world.

This recent few days saw successive non-Covid - infected deaths here.

Carmen Soliba, 84 a teacher- aunt on my mother’s side died from pancreatic complications following a gall bladder operation. With no Covid infection, her wake drew relatives and friends in Baguio for two days and another two days and nights in Sagada before the community led her to her resting place at the cemetery.

The last time  I saw her was sometime August or September last year when I dropped by having come from mushroom hunting at the hill above and beyond their house at Ambasing.

She looked strong then and carried on a lively conversation.  Must have been that age took on with some health concerns.   

And too with the vigil of my older brother’s mother-in-law, Lourdes Tudlong Antonio whose wake for two days and nights was attended by relatives especially from Tukukan, Bontoc where she traced her roots.

You can hear the lively chants from Bontoc women done in an upbeat and lively manner especially so when the one who died is in his/her elder years.   

Auntie Lourdes, 93 died of some gall bladder complications and with no Covid infection.  I remember her as one who has a strong interest in politics and community matters whenever I drop by for a visit at Sum-at, Bontoc where she stayed and cared some of her children and grandchildren. A former barangay chairman, politics and community affairs were a favorite conversation whenever I dropped by for a visit.

And so with a dear friend Carol Tambiac Lumbag, 55 who died from cardiac arrest with no Covid complication. Her long four - day wake was much attended by relatives and friends who sang praise songs and shared the good deeds of Carol when she was alive.

With the period of time we’ve been together as partners in weavers’ and farmers’ causes, Carol  proved to be a loyal friend, a cheerful giver  and quick to give comments constructively whom I give credence to being a weaver and farmer in deed.

I am forever grateful to her consistent support when Sagada Inabe, an organization of weavers was in its starting stage. Carol consistently contributed her effort, time and whatever material for the weavers’ group to pursue its dreams to reality. I am forever grateful to Carol for urging inspiration (and so with the other members) that the cause can still be realized. Amidst challenges including this pandemic. Women farmers also elected her to lead the Sagada Women Farmers Association in pursuance to organic farming.  

Also, Mary Inso, 79 a sweet and gentle soul who died due to cardiac arrest and Covid-negative was visited by a number of relatives and the community during her two day wake.

I am reminded of her loving care to her grandchildren while she attended to the workings of the bakery at sitio Ato whenever I dropped by to buy some bread. Inso’s Bakery established in the ‘60s remains strong and continuing till now.

The latest death this recent days  is Pio Sibayan who died from hypertensive stroke. Like the other departed who were Covid-free, Pio Sibayan’s wake was attended by relatives and friends for two days and two nights.

And so during this Covid pandemic where social distancing and wearing masks is a much reminded practice to do, those who attend wakes practice these protocols with one reminding the other to use her or his mask properly when the mask went down the nose bridge.

 Those who died with Covid infection were directly buried with no community wakes. I grieve for them where their remains were not allowed to be in vigil with their family, relatives and the community before they were buried.

I grieve to think such must be a lonely and unfortunate circumstance for the family cannot do anything except to see their loved ones directly buried in the cemetery with no wakes nor rituals to do before saying goodbye to this earthly world.

Nonetheless, the most we can do is to pray for the departed Covid-infected that their souls lead to the loving arms of the Most High where there is no more pain nor grief.

Nonagenarian Martha Sadagan also left for the Great Beyond.

Auntie Martha  who was hospitalized due to some respiratory complications and found to be infected with the Covid virus was buried straight at the cemetery not having been brought to her home for rituals in her home done before being buried. .

 Auntie Martha at 97 is my Auntie Maria Likigan’s close friend. Both were teachers by profession, love their profession and both were single.

There were times I went to her house at Ambasing with my auntie Maria (she passed away some years back).Sometimes Auntie Martha visited Auntie Maria in her house where I stayed when I was in high school. They will talk about anything under the sun in endless chatter especially on social issues with their expressive tones and strong views.

Less the aged look, Auntie Martha at 97 when I visited her last year in her house at Ambasing still talked with the same emphasis she did many years back.

With her stories, I came to know she with Auntie Maria, my grandma’s younger sister were classmates in their elementary years in the 1930s at the St Mary’s mission school then.

During weekends they will drop by at the house of my grandparents at Dagdag and do some housecleaning and weeding. Auntie Martha was known to many to always lead the novena during wakes.  

To all who died during this Covid pandemic –rest in peace and let light perpetual shine upon you as your good examples serve as inspiration to the rest of the living.