My Hometown Kapangan

My Hometown Kapangan

Vacation binges are not a serious problem but I considered it as a new experience and another memory for me. This vacation, I went home to Kapangan where you can find the beauty of the place and hospitable people. I was filled with nostalgia for my past vacations so I’m not supposed to go home but I want to rest and also I missed my family and friends out there.

This vacation, I learned some traditions and practices that we have that they still do in our place. I appreciated all those rituals and I respect all of them even though I was not sure if also believed in those rituals.

First day of November is like the snow seems to fall, my father told us not to take bath because they have this belief that you shouldn’t take a bath during All Souls Day and I didn’t ask why. At 5:30 am, the sun is yet to rise but the trees are already awake, my grandfather’s old house will be our rendezvous so we went there early to help my cousins prepare foods. Most of us were busy doing many things. After we cooked rice, we have to walk a distance to fetch water because we don’t have enough water to use. After fetching water, my mother told me to help my sister wash the dishes so that we can use it again after. While eating, I observed some rituals that my uncle performs. They separated some meat or what we call the “etag” for those ancestors that they believed we had. They talked and called their names to join us eating and also asked them for their guidance and blessings. Their guidance and blessings that may help their children or we as their grandchildren not to be indigent but to be lucky and successful in life.

I have doubts about these beliefs that according to my parents, it is necessary to learn for at least to be aware about these rituals and practices either I believed or not because this is our own tradition. It is important to learn every traditions and cultures that we have to accentuate, that we still care and respect.

There are many rituals that I observed and I didn’t know yet the meanings and the reasons why they’re doing these practices. My opinion or idea about these rituals is that it is not bad for you to do so but I prefer to be a Christian and we have our own beliefs. I suggest that we should only believe on what we know is right, and always respect the beliefs of others.

Angeline Lete