It was customary among Filipino families in the 19th and 20th centuries to capture images of the deceased. The photograph is called Recuerdo de Patay, or memento mori. This could be creepy but these heirloom shots of the dead family member is the last memory one could have with the dearly departed before he or she is finally laid to rest.
In a blog post, Pinoy Kolektor explained that the "goal was to present the subject as if they were simply resting, with a peaceful and lifelike appearance." Looking at these photographs may not be comfortable, sometimes, it could be even scary, but these memorabilia are important as cultural and historical pieces. These also hold sentimental values to members of the family.
Here's my family's very own recuerdo de patay, taken at the funeral of my father's youngest sister, who died at the age of 2, some time in 1966.
Family lore says that Baby was bewitched (gin-aswang) by an old lady. My grandmother used to own a store along San Roque Street, and Baby would always be the apple of every passersby's eyes when they stop by at Lola's tiange to buy something. Mestiza and cute, they would adore her. One day, an old lady passed by and, just like everyone else, was enchanted by her cuteness. She patted Baby on her head and pinched her rosy cheeks and left.
That night, Baby got a fever and had convulsion and died in no time. According to my grandmother, she never looked dead even while in her coffin. She seemed like she was just deep in her slumber.
After the funeral, my grandparents could not move on. They consulted a cerujano (medicine man), who told my grandfather that Baby was not really dead. Her soul was just spirited away by the witch, trapped in her house, so they better go to her hut in the middle of the kanipaan (nipa swampland). They had to do this before Baby's remains are stolen and exchanged for a banana stalk. Alas, they were too late.
When they arrived at the kanipaan, the witch was not in her hut anymore. They hurried to the cemetery, unearthed the cadaver and found the body pale and lifeless. The witch had taken Baby away.
Creepy, right? So you may ask where is this photograph kept today? There, in the baol. Or else I'll scare off anyone who sees it hanging on the wall.
What about you? Do you still have heirloom photographs of your dead relatives? Share them in the comment box, together with their interesting story. by Christian George Acevedo, November 2, 2023
You might also want to read:
- Neglected Cemeteries are Heritage Sites, too
- Who's Who of Banica Cemetery?
- Dumalag's Circular Cemetery
- Recuerdo de Patay: Memory of the Dead
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