Ancestor's Undead Legacy

Our ancestors have contributed a lot in terms of culture, traditions, customs, beliefs, and rituals. And they pass it to the generation to next. Our parents embody those for them to use it for the generation of today and somehow to shape, train, or mold us to keep track of our growth as living warriors in society.

However, one of the most practiced customs in our family is that the harvest of rice specifically the Visayan rice in Aklanon vernacular we called it "Bisayà"- in this kind of practice, we tend to gather the whole family, so that means it should be completed unless they are far away from home like apart oceans. Together, we prepare native chicken and cook it whether in bamboo shoots "Binakoe" or the chicken stew with diced banana pith or what is called the "Inubarang Manok" and of course, the Bisayà (rice) the main reason for the celebration. It is believed that when you celebrate the harvest of rice with your family, abundant blessings will come into your family and that you would still be intact no matter what circumstances you will encounter.

On the other hand, I don't know if this practice in Filipino culture still exists but, in our family it does. The "Pag-mano Po" in our parents especially elders, whatever the occasion or wherever you've been as long as you encounter elders, it is our practice to always make "mano" especially in the family gatherings you will be scolded by your grandparents when they caught you just strolling around and forgot to mano with them. It is believed of showing respect for the elders.

Moreover, since the family is very Catholic, they are devoted in terms of praying and going to church. My grandmother would require us to do the "Novena" with the holy rosary in our hands, individually. This practice should be done every 6:00 in the evening in front of the altar, we were assigned who will lead the "Our Father who art in Heaven" and the "Hail Mary" and so on. This is still being practiced by my mother and siblings but, I don't practice it anymore because I have already changed my religion from Catholic to Baptist last 2019.

Notwithstanding Cultural beliefs, I know this will change over the period of time some cultures have already extincted but I know the beneficial cultures, traditions, practices, and beliefs that have impacted and influenced us to be better and shape us for where we are today, remains. Dead ancestors but, UNDEAD LEGACY.