Burial of a Friend's Mom

Yesterday I went to the wake and burial of a close friend's mother. The notice was very short as I knew about the death just that morning, as I didn't see his Facebook post (since I have rarely been scrolling on my FB feed for quite a while).

I only got wind of the news because the day of the burial was also my friend's birthday, and he told me about it after I greeted him through a private message. This friend is very dear to me, so even on such instant notice, I had to go to console him and show my support and concern.

First things first, however. On any trip, it has become my habit to GET COFFEE. Sleepy or not, coffee is the excellent companion especially on long trips and heavy traffic. And Dunkin' has (arguably) the perfect and best fast food coffee there is.

Below is a pic of my friend delivering his eulogy. He was very close to his mom so there was a lot of crying. I'm so sad for him but I am glad I got to attend the wake and funeral. The least I could do for a friend was to be there in his time of need.

Rain was prevalent during the burial as there was a storm concentrated at the middle portion of the country, giving our relatively more northern area some slight and continuous rain.

The cemetery is a peaceful sight, and a rainy view is always calming for me. I love rain (as long as it doesn't devastate our countrymen's homes and livelihood, which, sadly, it did).

This is a concrete tomb excavated from the site, which was later put on top of the larger and newer one. Never got to ask who it was. From the small size, it must have been a child or infant.

The cemetery workers are shown here lowering the new tomb.

The concrete lid was being removed here.

Preparing the frame for the coffin.

Putting the contraption in place.

The rain stopped for a bit, but one could see there was more to come.

The coffin being placed on the contraption for lowering into the concrete tomb.

The concrete lid being replaced.

The first tomb being readied for placement over the newer one.

After an extensive period, the soil was then put back.

I was the last to leave the cemetery as I have not decided where to go next. Couldn't go straight back home as the traffic was still intense and it was a day my plate number was not allowed on the streets. Various options include visiting several friends in the area. The place was a bit far from home, so this was the opportunity to see them.

No friend was available, so I just went home. Heavy traffic on the CALAX (Cavite expressway).

After arriving at the SLEX (the main expressway in the south), I decided to chill at a gas station. This stop over also served as the "pagpag," a local superstition where it is required for one who went to a wake or burial to go somewhere else first before going home. This supposedly "shakes off" (the English translation of the word) any negative energy (or spirits?) acquired from a visit to the dead.

As is now common in many gas stations in urban centers, there are a lot of food places to choose from here. Had to eat just to pass the time.

Finally settled on Subway.

Why Subway? Because it gives me the perfect excuse to eat healthy. My usual fare here is the Veggie Delite, a wrap made exclusively with vegetables (except for the standard cheese).

I like Subway's layout.

They also assemble their wraps in a very aesthetic way, which is very nice to look at.

After getting iced coffee again at a convenience store, I soon slept in the car up to the wee hours! Eat healthy, you say? Before I left the gas station, I again had something to eat, this time a burger steak meal, fried chicken, and spaghetti hah hah. Still, I'm very happy to be alive! Especially after all the gloom and doom of the storm and the damage it caused as well as my friend's sorrow and grieving.