One Enchanted Evening ...

Well, what a lovely night Mary & I have just had. It is very, very rare that we ever get out on a 'date night', but tonight sure was different!

We left the kids with Aunty Vivien & Aunty Jackie, and away we went to our destination. When we arrived, we noticed many people were there. All were dressed in lovely clothes - mainly white. They all seemed to be so happy. A brass band was playing nice music - slow waltzes one minute and the quickstep the next. We went inside the main room and there were so many people talking, laughing and obviously happy to be there. Kids were running around with balloons and plates of beautiful food were being passed around. Some people were playing board games - scrabble and Uno seemed to be most popular - although chess was also to be seen. Young people were impersonating Elvis with a guitar in the corner. In the next room many people were eating together and the menu was extensive - pansit, adobo, various chicken dishes, many pork dishes - and the fruit was in abundance. Everyone was happy and Mary and I caught up with some old friends.

Where were we? Guess? Come on. The cinema? No. A Party? No. A church event? No. A restaurant? No.

No, No, No. Actually, I'd better tell you as you will never guess. We were at a FUNERAL WAKE for an old lady whose daughter we have only met once but who is very friendly with a friend of ours. Got it?

Mary & I had to walk up to the body of this old lady we had never even met and whose name we could not pronounce. We had to talk to her and say how lovely it was to be there. We gave our words of respect and then we prayed for the family.

You see, Filipinos have a different way of dealing with death and dying. We Brits are quiet, respectful, solemn. You would never ever dream of going to the house of your newly deceased Great Uncle Charlie and getting the Monopoly or Twister out accompanied by a few of the youth singing and playing the guitar! In one home, I saw the wife of the dead husband playing Uno on the lid of her husbands coffin. She laughed and said to him, "You cheated all your life at cards, but you can't cheat now!" I almost swallowed my banana!

Here, death is just a part of life. They really celebrate the life of the person who died. Tonight, there was a Karaoke machine there being played in the corner! This is a family time. A time to catch up with fiends. A time to laugh with people they had not seen ... well, since the last funeral! A time to eat good food and talk about many things. A time to remember all the good times they had with their deceased.

They had been there for 7 days and this was the last night. None of the family or friends were going home tonight. There are people to 'accompany the dead' 24 hrs a day, until the person is buried.

These wakes takes a little bit of getting used to and it is difficult for us to take in. But ... it seems to be the only time when Mary & I get out together, so I can't wait until the next one!