Cordillera IPs ushered to cremation, modern burial practices

BAGUIO CITY — Indigenous peoples from the Cordillera Administrative Region are slowly being open to the idea of cremation and other modern burial practices despite the long-standing tradition of burning animals during wakes.

Beyond the Sunset Memorial Columbary Park manager Jennifer Luna-Dinangan said that some IPs have already adopted the modern burial practice especially during the coronavirus disease pandemic, where bodies of patients who died due to Covid-19 or were found post-mortem to be positive for the virus are cremated or immediately buried.

"There are now many fellow IPs who opt for cremation even if there is the saying that only animals are burned," said Luna-Dinangan, also a member of an IP tribe in the Cordillera, said.

Many Cordillera tribes observe a different way of butchering animals that includes torching the animal to remove its hair before opening it and taking the liver for a native priest to "read" and interpret the size, form, appearance, and location of the bile.

Luna-Dinangan said cremation also allowed the families to bring the remains back to their hometown where they can put the remains in the final resting place of a relative.

"Many are in Baguio for work and they need to bring home the remains of their dead relative for burial," she said, adding that crowded cemeteries are another factor in relatives opting for cremation.
Luna-Diangan said in 10 deaths, about four would opt for cremation.

Aside from cremation being adopted, many families are now opting to bury their dead in cemeteries and memorial parks instead of a tomb in the backyard or within the house.

Marcel Tagel, an Ibaloi from Kabayan, Benguet, said they have bought cemetery lots for themselves in case their family opts to have them buried when they die, adding that it is a preparation for themselves that their families may or may not use for them.

"You don't know whether in the future our family will do the traditional for us or they will prefer to put us in a cemetery. We are just preparing because anyway we will all go there when our time comes," Tagel said.

She said they still have relatives who have prepared their tombs in the house's basement where they will be buried.

Lorna Tumilang, a Kankanaey from Buguias, Benguet said they have a family cemetery at the property left by their ancestors in Lubas, La Trinidad, Benguet but her grandfather asked to be buried right at the compound where their children's houses were built.