Philippine E-Journals

SO CLOSE YET SO FAR: SOCIAL COHESION EFFECTS OF ALTERED CATHOLIC AFTER-DEATH RITUALS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

ALBERT C. ALBINA | Enrique G. Oracion

 

Abstract:

The death of a loved one is one of those significant life events when social cohesion is desperately needed to ameliorate the pain and grief. However, social cohesion in times of pain and grief has been frustratingly disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic because of physical distancing, border closures, travel restrictions, and other similar measures. This present study aimed to investigate the effects on the social cohesion of altered Catholic after-death rituals as a result of the state-imposed restrictions to contain the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines. Employing interpretive phenomenology to capture the lived experiences of bereaved individuals, 48 participants across the capital cities of the Central Visayas region agreed to participate in in-depth interviews. Digitally recorded interviews were thematically analyzed to generate the themes and subthemes. Three themes emerged as results of reshaped after-death rituals: physically disconnected community members, socially isolated and stigmatized mourners, and loss of autonomy due to state-imposed restrictions. Social cohesion regarding the expression of reverence for the dead person and condolence to the bereaved, along with the performance of after-death rituals, are significantly challenged and weakened by the state-imposed restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the ability of the social actors (individuals, community, and institutions) to find alternative ways to salvage social cohesion was observed. Specifically, some participants were quick to transition to technology- mediated communication and virtual after-death rituals to mitigate the unpleasant effects of the restrictions.