About Dying

To die nowadays is very expensive. In the past, to think about buying a funeral plan for your mother-in-law is a “no, no.” Your mother-in-law will never forgive you for thinking about her death. That’s now a thing of the past. Filipinos are now more realistic and rationale. Even in the Philippines, they buy now funeral package. Particularly the rich family, they would like to see how their casket would look like when they die.

It is unfortunate that in the Philippines, death scares a lot of people. It is not the idea of dying that scares Filipinos but the expenses associated in dying. Nagpapatay ng baboy para may maipakain sa mga nagsisipaglamay. Hindi lamang merienda kundi pati na tanghalian at hapunan. Maghapong painom ng kape. May sugalan pa gaya ng madyong at baraha. Ang patay sa Pilipinas ay lalo pang pinapatay sa gastos. This practice is as old as the “jueteng” and as old as the corruption in our government. Kailan kaya mababago ang ganitong kaugalian sa Pilipinas. Marahil kailangan lipulin muna ang lahat ng tao sa ating bayan at magsimula tayo sa mga bagong silang. Mga bagong silang na wala pang kamuwangan sa buhay. What do you think?

Incidentally, how many times have we used the word “dying” unconsciously to express our desires in life? Here’s an awesome story about the word “dying” that was shared to me by my friend Lolita Rose from San Francisco.

“First I was dying to finish high school and start college;

And then I was dying to marry and have children;

And then I was dying for my children to grow old enough so I could go back to work;

But then I was dying to retire;

And now I am dying;

And suddenly I realized I forgot to live.”

How many of you have gone this ritual in the use of the word “dying?” Isn’t that a testimony how human beings can never be happy for what they already have? Walang hanggan ang ating pagnanasa sa buhay. Kung maaabot lamang natin ang Langit, gagawin natin. That’s life!