31.08.23

In Health so far, we have been learning about Death, Dying and the Afterlife. We have explored different subheadings of Death, Dying and the Afterlife. Whether it would be in culture, the emotional you’ll feel, how to help yourself and others etc.

For the past two periods, we have been mashing our keyboards to finish and create our assessment, which entails us that we are to investigate a topic that we’re more interested in/haven’t had the chance to learn about yet. Of course it is impossible to cover every little detail, so instead we got to pick a subheading to research/recap about. Given my poor time managing skills, I’m currently finishing this once and for all on the due date nearing 12:00 am.

I hope this slideshow can help you learn something today, or even help you! I’d also like to thank my teacher(s) for helping me understand this topic as best as I can. We appreciate what you do and I hope you appreciate the result of your teaching 🙂

Culture Death and Coping with Loss.

3/08/23

What is your culture?

My Ethnicities are Filipino and Australian. I’ll be focusing on the Philippines in this post. In the Philippines there is a frequent way to celebrate death or different cultural practices. Located in Sagada, Mountain Province, in the island Luzon of the Philippines, is the most popular area where coffins were to be clipped to a side of the cliff. The Kankanaey people believed that the coffins were centuries old.

What are some important processes/things that occur when a person passes away?

In my culture, from what I know, it is more european style. When my grandparents passed away, we were lucky enough to afford a coffin to honor my mothers grandparents. They weren’t buried into the ground. Instead my Grandparents coffins are next to each other in a small cemetery near a farm. The most important thing to do when someone passes away, is to pray. As someone who’s from a Catholic family, my mother said you have to pray to them. When I visited my grandparents last year, my mother burned incense and prayed to her parents.

What is something you think is interesting or important to teach others about your culture regarding death, dying and the afterlife?

My family celebrates death in a more european style. Usually getting buried, placed in a coffin or rarely getting burned and turned into ashes. But a lot of people find it interesting that if you were to pray to the person once they’re in their ‘resting’ place, that you have to light a candle or burn incense. We do this because our prayers and words will float up with the smoke and reach them in heaven.

But whenever you do encounter a coffin or a graveyard, it’s a universal rule to not deface those things since they’re extremely sacred. It’s also optional to leave flowers or fruit near the coffin or resting place. We use fruit because, just like what it’s for in New Years, it’s a sign of Life.

What are 5 strategies that a person could implement that may help them get through the loss? How will this enhance their hauora?

• When I was little sometimes I’d talk to my Grandmother through prayers or letters. I found this comforting because I knew we were always a part and never got to bond together. This can help because sometimes to face an issue you have to talk it out with the victim or the person involved. This can be singing songs that you link to, drawing pictures of them or simply lighting a candle every time it’s their birthday.
• It’s also a good idea in all situations to connect with nature. To lay in a field and clear your mind. The fresh air and the comforting field of grass can really help sooth them. It’ll help your physical health through resting and breathing calmly. Emotional and Mental could be just crying whilst laying down. It’s always better to let it out than bottle it up.
• Another could be to talk it out with someone. Letting all of your worries and other negative feelings out in a talking manner is always a good idea. Of course, I don’t mean punching or screaming at the other person, but to talk to them. Or somebody you’re not afraid to cry in front of. Someone you know will have your back.
• Another way that is quite popular is to work on yourself or try and avoid the thought of the other person. I’ve seen this work on another person to move on as quickly as they can because they know that’s what the person who passed wanted most. This could be catching up with friends or family, working on your grades, going out on walks. Anything to help yourself. But you must always remember if you ever do this that it’s okay to cry.
• Find a more positive approach to loss. Instead of mourning their loss, celebrate their life. Look around you and look in yourself to see what they did for you and how they changed you or things around you from the better. Thank them in your heart for what they’ve done for you.