Mass Burial, A Mass for the Masses
Weird, even eerie title, right? Well, at least for me.
There are just many things around us that we take for granted. And I'm proud to say, I owe it to my travels that I learned (and keep learning) new things about our country.
Take the case of our catholic ceremony or ritual (howsoever it is really called), before burying the dead. *UpdateA friend educated me: it's called "mass celebration". Whatever!
Yep, whatever it's called, I don't like associating the word "celebration" with the dead!
I don't think calling it a "ceremony" or "ritual" is offensive anyway. Basta yes, I mean that church activity just before the “kabaong” is delivered to the “huling hantungan”.
I thought all along those are done individually. I mean an 'exclusive' mass service for an individual patay before the next. That's what I've known in the decades of my life.
Teka, disclaimer: it's not as if I witness many or often, simba ko 'wag naman!
So I just assumed nga, that it's really on a "per individual basis". Kalain aning topica oi, pero sige ituloy natin! Many times, I have encountered scenes, where one hearse awaits outside the church, while another dead's ceremonies is still 'on-going' inside.
Same case with weddings, baptismals, etc., right? I thought it really was like that!
Then again, oo nga naman, there are “mass weddings” or “mass baptismals”. Mass as in "en masse". Sabay-sabay yan parang "mass-graduation" or "mass oath-taking".
Then.., I learned just recently, that there are also “Mass Burials”. The 'funny' thing is: this started w/ me being annoyed by a slow-moving traffic on a Saturday afternoon!
Here’s the story…
I was running late for a Saturday-afternoon meetup with a client at a Mandaue mall. I came from Liloan which is a 12-peso-ride away - meaning it's just near (6 or 7kms).
The multicab I was riding (front seat of course) was crawling with so many vehicles when we reached the central area of my dearie Consolacion (town before Mandaue).
I immediately thought "there must have been another road accident". Unknowingly, I talked to myself (again!!) a bit too loudly, saying “tsk tsk tsk, sana walang namatay”.
To which (I was surprised), the driver answered with “patay lagi sir, daghan pa gyud”!
Doubly surprised, I asked “ha, anong nangyari?”. His reply became a triple surprise to me when he nonchalantly said “klase-klase ra na… sakit, drugs, gipusil, gidunggab…”.
Confused at his reply and why he was grinning, napa-Tagalog tayo asking “ano bang ibig mong sabihin?”, to which he readily answered with “Sabado, misa ng mga patay”!
Yes, he said that in Tagalog, and I got what he meant, so I just said “ah, ana diay…”
Still in Tagalog, driver further said "ganun din naman kahit saan diba?". Ah I wanted to disagree, but oh, maybe I just didn't notice, na ganun na nga yata ang ating mundo?!
I haven't seen one yet, but Mass Burials are probably already common. Okay noted.
*Update 2026*Because I have no photos (yet), Google Gemini made this illustration for me. Sorry, I haven't seen a "mass burial" of 'unrelated dead' yet. Binyag at kasal lang!
But since then, I observed around Metro Cebu, oo nga, every Saturday...
Mag-dungan sila from many churches to their respective cemeteries - walking! Awk, I mean ang mga buhi ba, they walk behind hearse, moving slowly, to the mimintiryo!
Saturday afternoon usually yan. Traaaapiiik!
*Update 2026*
For whatever reason, and for whatever this story was/is worth, I have 'recently' been "accosted" by friends at a party. Their lively topic was: "Issues In Burying The Dead".
I suspect their "topic" stemmed from that growing "bury vs cremate" issue in Japan!
Whatever and anyway.., nalaman ko tuloy.., in our country, the "mass burial" thing is nothing but a response to the laws of economics. Sa Tagalog pa: pera-pera lang yan!
Same principle really, with the "mass wedding" and "mass baptism" things. Kung me pera ka, bury your dead any day and/or anytime. A dedicated priest will be available.
If you have more, aba, the priest even goes with you to the cemetery!
If you don't have much $$$, wait for the Saturday 1PM "Mass Burial". Together with other departeds, the priest will 'celebrate mass' and bless them "en masse". Ganern!
Saint Joseph, Saint Gertrude and others.., any comments?
Oh well... basta sa Lacion, traffic ang Saturday afternoon. Now we know why!
There are just many things around us that we take for granted. And I'm proud to say, I owe it to my travels that I learned (and keep learning) new things about our country.
Take the case of our catholic ceremony or ritual (howsoever it is really called), before burying the dead. *UpdateA friend educated me: it's called "mass celebration". Whatever!
Yep, whatever it's called, I don't like associating the word "celebration" with the dead!
I don't think calling it a "ceremony" or "ritual" is offensive anyway. Basta yes, I mean that church activity just before the “kabaong” is delivered to the “huling hantungan”.
I thought all along those are done individually. I mean an 'exclusive' mass service for an individual patay before the next. That's what I've known in the decades of my life.
Teka, disclaimer: it's not as if I witness many or often, simba ko 'wag naman!
So I just assumed nga, that it's really on a "per individual basis". Kalain aning topica oi, pero sige ituloy natin! Many times, I have encountered scenes, where one hearse awaits outside the church, while another dead's ceremonies is still 'on-going' inside.
Same case with weddings, baptismals, etc., right? I thought it really was like that!
Then again, oo nga naman, there are “mass weddings” or “mass baptismals”. Mass as in "en masse". Sabay-sabay yan parang "mass-graduation" or "mass oath-taking".
Then.., I learned just recently, that there are also “Mass Burials”. The 'funny' thing is: this started w/ me being annoyed by a slow-moving traffic on a Saturday afternoon!
Here’s the story…
I was running late for a Saturday-afternoon meetup with a client at a Mandaue mall. I came from Liloan which is a 12-peso-ride away - meaning it's just near (6 or 7kms).
The multicab I was riding (front seat of course) was crawling with so many vehicles when we reached the central area of my dearie Consolacion (town before Mandaue).
I immediately thought "there must have been another road accident". Unknowingly, I talked to myself (again!!) a bit too loudly, saying “tsk tsk tsk, sana walang namatay”.
To which (I was surprised), the driver answered with “patay lagi sir, daghan pa gyud”!
Doubly surprised, I asked “ha, anong nangyari?”. His reply became a triple surprise to me when he nonchalantly said “klase-klase ra na… sakit, drugs, gipusil, gidunggab…”.
Confused at his reply and why he was grinning, napa-Tagalog tayo asking “ano bang ibig mong sabihin?”, to which he readily answered with “Sabado, misa ng mga patay”!
Yes, he said that in Tagalog, and I got what he meant, so I just said “ah, ana diay…”
Still in Tagalog, driver further said "ganun din naman kahit saan diba?". Ah I wanted to disagree, but oh, maybe I just didn't notice, na ganun na nga yata ang ating mundo?!
I haven't seen one yet, but Mass Burials are probably already common. Okay noted.
But since then, I observed around Metro Cebu, oo nga, every Saturday...
Mag-dungan sila from many churches to their respective cemeteries - walking! Awk, I mean ang mga buhi ba, they walk behind hearse, moving slowly, to the mimintiryo!
Saturday afternoon usually yan. Traaaapiiik!
*Update 2026*
For whatever reason, and for whatever this story was/is worth, I have 'recently' been "accosted" by friends at a party. Their lively topic was: "Issues In Burying The Dead".
I suspect their "topic" stemmed from that growing "bury vs cremate" issue in Japan!
Whatever and anyway.., nalaman ko tuloy.., in our country, the "mass burial" thing is nothing but a response to the laws of economics. Sa Tagalog pa: pera-pera lang yan!
Same principle really, with the "mass wedding" and "mass baptism" things. Kung me pera ka, bury your dead any day and/or anytime. A dedicated priest will be available.
If you have more, aba, the priest even goes with you to the cemetery!
If you don't have much $$$, wait for the Saturday 1PM "Mass Burial". Together with other departeds, the priest will 'celebrate mass' and bless them "en masse". Ganern!
Saint Joseph, Saint Gertrude and others.., any comments?
Oh well... basta sa Lacion, traffic ang Saturday afternoon. Now we know why!
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