STATUS SYMBOL

Status symbol could be very expensive as I noticed during the three wakes that I attended. Two of the corpses were lying in expensive metal caskets, the other one in a less expensive wooden urn. The vigil night could last for a week and during all those days, food flows freely.

During the funeral the family hired two brass bands plus photographers and video technicians to record the event. In the final analysis expenses could reach several thousands of pesos while leaving behind poorer orphans. Dying is becoming very expensive simply because traditions about deaths and keeping the status symbol are all irrelevant, almost stupid.

But lots of good things emanate from the practice. This is the time for family reunion and for reconciliation among warring relatives. This is the time to see long lost friends and colleagues. Time for recollection of fond memories - very nostalgic indeed. This is also the time for each member of the family to show his best and to ventilate suppressed emotions.

Suddenly everybody remembers that the dead man is good, and his good qualities are many. Those who have done him wrong feel sorry and though it is too late, a bit his "greatness" is felt.