Death and Burial Practices
Death and Burial Practices
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For the Blaan people, death marks the end of a person’s physical life. A person is considered dead when their pulse stops, signaling that their soul has departed from the body. The soul remains in the area surrounding the deceased for a while before moving on to its final destination: Kilot, if the person died from natural causes, or Kayong, if their death was caused by human actions, such as through witchcraft or violence.
The Blaan perform a ceremony called Tufa Lam Eel when someone dies in the community. This ritual involves the preparation of food, with music played on instruments like the edel. Participants in the ceremony gather various leaves, such as nama, tubad almaga (from the palm tree), and naben, which are used to carry water. These actions are meant to help the deceased's family cope with the loss, ensuring they will not forget the departed and that they will have a good life despite the sorrow. The ceremony is also believed to remove any bad luck that the family may face as a result of the death.
The burial practices vary depending on the age and status of the deceased:
For a child: The body is wrapped in a banig (a mat made of romblon slats) and placed in a covered hammock, which is then hung on a tree.
For an adult: The body is wrapped in their own blanket and a banig (specifically called Eclatan), and buried under a large tree called Sufeng.
For important individuals: The deceased is buried on the roof or bulel (the elevated part of the house). During the wake, community members keep vigil to prevent samkot mati (spirits believed to steal bodies) from disturbing the dead. The wake is marked by chanting and crying, lasting for a day, or longer—up to a month for those of high status, or even 3-5 months, according to some accounts. During the mourning period, it is forbidden to kill chickens, reprimand anyone from the deceased’s family, or allow close kin to change their clothes.
Sufeng (Traditional Burial Practice)
Sufeng (Traditional Burial Practice)
When a B'laan person dies, their body is typically kept in the house for one to three weeks, depending on the family's customs. For prominent members of the community, the body is placed in a coffin made from soft wood. To make the coffin, a tree trunk is cut down, large enough to fit the body. The log is then split in half and hollowed out, and the body is placed between the two halves, which are left in the house. The family discusses the burial location and the division of property before the body is moved.
Once the mourning period is over, the coffin is taken to a tree, usually a large one, where it is tied to the branches. This practice, known as sufeng, is done to ensure the soul can ascend to heaven. If the deceased is a married woman, the body cannot be burned until the husband offers a horse or carabao (water buffalo) to her parents. In some cases, if the family chooses not to use a tree, the body may simply be propped against the trunk, allowing the soul to "walk away" when it leaves the body.
For less prominent individuals, the body may be wrapped in mats or split bamboo, with feet covered by rags. The B'laan people have various ways of disposing of the dead, including burial in the ground, hanging the body on tree branches, or placing the body in the trunk of a tree. In some cases, the body may be abandoned at the place of death.
A ritual called malo is performed when a married person dies. The surviving spouse expresses a wish before the burial, often by stepping on or lightly kicking the coffin. This act symbolizes the end of the relationship, with the living spouse sometimes saying, "You are dead now, you are no longer here. I step on your coffin because you have little love for me, because you have left me." This ritual affirms the conclusion of their bond.
The burial itself is a solemn affair, with four people carrying the body to the grave site. Additional individuals guard the path and grave site against any interference from samkot mati.
After the burial, the family begins a period of mourning, which includes a tradition of marking significant days. On the ninth day after the death, the family prepares a feast, followed by another feast on the fortieth day. These feasts are meant to honor the deceased and to protect the family from bad luck. The mourning and ceremonial feasts play an important role in ensuring that the soul of the departed is properly cared for, and that the family can move forward with their lives without the curse of misfortune.
In sum, the Blaan death and burial practices are deeply rooted in ensuring both spiritual well-being and community support, with special emphasis on rituals that help guide the deceased’s soul and protect the living from misfortune.
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