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Honoring the Dead: Burial Practices of Early Filipinos

Denise E. Paraiso

Bachelor of Secondary Education, Biliran Province State University

Reading in Philippine History

Mr. Mark Christian Almazan

August 26, 2025

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BURIAL PRACTICES OF EARLY FILIPINOS

Chosen Belief/Practice Description from Sources Purpose on daily life

(Secondary/Primary)
Burial Practice of the Early primary burial jars - Jar burials reveal that
Filipinos secondary burial jars ancient Filipinos believed in
- Burial jars came in many life after death and the soul’s
different shapes and sizes journey to the spirit world.
and were usually discovered - These practices also
in caves, coastal areas, and reflected their strong belief in
open highlands. The the afterlife, the inclusion of
differences in their sizes food, tools, ornaments, and
often showed the kind of other items inside the burial
burial tradition practiced. jars shows that they believe
Some jars were big enough to that the dead would need
hold an entire body, usually these things in the afterlife.
placed in a bent or flexed - These practices helped
position. people deal with the fear of
-Burials often included food, death by believing their loved
weapons, jewelry, and tools, ones safely moved on to the
suggesting belief in an afterlife.
afterlife. Graves were placed
in caves, under houses, or in
sacred areas. Rituals such as
chanting, feasting, and
offerings accompanied these
practices, and shamans or
spiritual leaders often guided
the ceremonies.

 It helped them survive emotionally. Burial rituals gave comfort and hope by teaching
that death was not the end. This helped people cope with fear and sadness when loved
ones died.
 Helped them believe the soul was safe in the afterlife.
 These practices reminded people of their connection to their family, ancestors, and
community, which gave meaning to life and death.

 Ancient jar burials and secondary burials have disappeared because of colonization and
the spread of Christianity.
 Today, burials are done in cemeteries with lamay and masses.
 People still offer food, candles, flowers, and prayers during Undas (All Saints’ and All
Souls’ Day)
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BURIAL PRACTICES OF EARLY FILIPINOS

 Cremation is also becoming more common, but the respect and rituals remain.

Honoring the Dead: Burial Practices of Early Filipinos

Burial in earthenware jars and other containers is a common funerary tradition associated with

the Metal Age of the Philippines, from around 2800 to 1000 years ago. Burial jars greatly vary in

forms and sizes, and are mostly found in cave sites, near coasts, and in the open hilly areas. Their

varied sizes are often indicative of the type of burial practice performed in these vessels. Some

burial jars are large enough to accommodate the whole body of a deceased individual in a flexed

position. This direct interment of the dead in the vessel characterizes a primary burial tradition.

The more common jar burial practice in the Metal Age, on the other hand, involves the elaborate

process of reburying the skeletal remains of the deceased individual in relatively smaller vessels

after its initial interment. This tradition is called secondary burial and is represented by the

Manunggul burial jar and the Maitum anthropomorphic burial jars, both of which are declared

National Cultural Treasures. Aside from the differing sizes, the forms and decorative styles

varied greatly in each site, reflecting the diverse beliefs and cultural attitudes of Metal Age

societies in the archipelago. Associated with these burial vessels are various artifacts interred

inside as grave goods such as smaller pottery vessels, ornaments, metal tools, and shell artifacts.

The Burial Jar Collection contains most of the intact and restored pottery burial vessels

recovered from several archaeological sites throughout the Philippines, from the Batanes Islands

to the Maitum site in Sarangani Province. Most of the burial jars are currently displayed in the

Palayok: Ceramic Heritage of the Philippines exhibition located at the second floor of the

National Museum of Anthropology. Included in the collection as well are the other earthenware

burial containers such as the rectangular earthenware burial vessel from Bacong in Negros
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BURIAL PRACTICES OF EARLY FILIPINOS

Oriental, the limestone burial urns of the Kulaman Plateau of Sultan Kudarat, and the various

burial jar covers made of pottery and stone.

The practice of jar burials was not only about putting the dead to rest but also about showing

deep respect and care for them even after death. For early Filipinos, death was not the end of

existence. They believed that the soul continued its journey into another world, so proper burials

were important to make sure the spirit reached the afterlife safely. By placing the remains inside

jars or other containers, the living honored their ancestors and expressed their hope that the

spirits would continue to guide and protect the community. These practices also reflected their

strong belief in the afterlife, the inclusion of food, tools, ornaments, and other items inside the

burial jars shows that they believe that the dead would need these things in the afterlife. They

believe food could feed the soul on its journey, while jewelry or weapons could give protection

or status in the afterlife. This shows how the living prepared their loved ones for a new life after

death. Another purpose of these burial traditions was to keep strong ties between the living and

the dead. Ancestors were seen as powerful spiritual beings who could bring blessings or

misfortune depending on how they were treated. This is why rituals and offerings were

performed during burials. Families believed that by honoring their dead properly, they were also

ensuring harmony and good fortune for the whole community. And also, another purpose of it is

to primarily served to honor the dead and provide for their journey into the afterlife, reflecting a

strong belief in ancestral veneration and the existence of life after death. Rituals and burial

customs varied by region and social class but generally aimed to protect the deceased, ensure

their passage to the spirit world, and maintain a connection between the living and the ancestors

Nowadays, the practice of using a jar for the burial has changed, not completely because some of

the Filipinos especially the wealthy one often used cremation where the dead body burned at a
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BURIAL PRACTICES OF EARLY FILIPINOS

very high temperature until it turns into ashes instead of being buried in a coffin like today. The

remains are reduced to bone fragments and ashes, which are then collected in an urn or container.

Although it changed through time, the burial practices have really changed due to colonization

and the spread of Christianity, but the core values remain strong. The use of jar burials and rituals

has disappeared, largely replaced by Catholic burials, cemetery traditions, and masses. But the

honoring of the dead is still very present in Filipino culture. One example of the practices of the

Filipinos that has changes through time is the lamay or wake, a practice where family members,

relatives, and friends gather to keep vigil over the deceased for several days before the burial.

During the lamay, people offer prayers, sing hymns or songs that had been requested by the

person before death, share meals, and tell stories about the life of the departed, the lamay today

serves to both comfort to the grieving family and strengthen ties among those who attend.

Another practice is the Undas (All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day), where millions of Filipinos

return to cemeteries to clean graves, put flowers on the grave, light candles, and offer prayers and

food. This practice is a continuation of the Filipinos ancestors, showing that even if the rituals

are now shaped by Catholic faith, the purpose remains the same, it is to keep the bond between

the living and the dead. Families often treat these visits as reunions, reflecting how remembrance

of the dead also gives deep relationships in the living.