Ded na si Lolo: The Philippine Culture and Values
Ded na si Lolo: Background
Ded na si Lolo is a film about the simple and magical lives of the
Filipinos wherein the story revolves into the grief of five siblings because of
the death of their dad. This film shows a variety of cultures that are reflected
in our Filipinos especially in these setting, the superstitions surrounding the
death of one of our loved ones. And the chances of having many beliefs that
may cause conflicts between the belief of each other.
To lose loved ones is one of the most painful events in our lives that we
cannot escape but these days or moments are chances we will find the unity
of Filipino in spite of our differences. Like in this film that at first, you will
think that it is a normal comedy film but behind this are the reality that
illustrates among the cultures and beliefs of Filipino especially in a family
setting.
Filipino Superstitious Beliefs
From this film we could see components of culture which are norms that
serves as guidelines to follow in relation to another. To be specific are this
informal rules “Folkways” which are based on old or traditional. Ideas, beliefs
and values were also seen in this film and symbols that represents
something aside from itself.
As the story flows, we could see different beliefs acted by different
characters in the story. Here are Do’s and Don’ts in the film whenever we
have the said settings. First, were seen at the time that the body of dead
arrives, that no one from the family member of the dead can help carry the
casket. Next is when the casket is inside, it has to be positioned in a way that
the feet of the dead do not point to the door. Placing a rosary around the
hands of the dead, but the rosary chain must be broken so that no one from
the family will follow the death. We can remember that Charing chided
Mameng that she forgets to cut off the rosary chain that she puts in their
dead mother’s hand that is why their father followed her to death which
denied by Mameng since it has been seven years since their mother has
died.
Another is according to the tradition, it was believed that during the wake,
the family must put money in the hands of the dead and take it back before
the burial, so they can enjoy financial success when they keep the money in
their wallets or use it for business. This was seen when Dolores puts some
money in her father’s hand for luck. And we can remember that she said
“swerte” if they will do that.
Next superstitions is about no one is allowed to wear anything red when
someone dies. When Junee the younger brother who is a gay comes home in
a red gown, he is scolded by his sister Dolores. Why, the reason is “That is
what ‘they’ say.” People say that wearing red to a wake or a funeral is an
insult to the family because this red could mean cheerfulness or happiness
that not supposed to be seen in this kind of setting. On the other hand, Junee
questions his sisters why Bobet, son of her sister Chading, covered in a red
blanket. The reason behind is “They say that red blanket protects the
children from being visited by the dead.”
Furthermore, when a wake is held in one’s house, no one from the member
of that house is to take a bath or shower within the house or simply that
family members would have to go through the wake without taking a bath or
take a bath in a neighbor’s place. For a while we talk about hygiene, now is
about cleanliness. The house is not allowed to be cleaned up, even sweeping
the floor is not allowed, no matter how dirty it becomes. So Junee questions
it for it’s been days since they cleaned up and he feels unhygienic for them
to keep all the dirt and filth in the house. But his brothers just says that it has
been a long-held belief by the old folks, so they need to stick to this kind of
beliefs.
The time when Junee’s gay friends who came to console their family is ready
to leave. Junee is about to walk them out for safety but her sister Dolores
does not allowed him from doing so for it was said that it is not good for a
family member to walk guests out of the house when there is a wake but
nobody knows why.
Crying is so much part of the grieving process, and like what we have seen in
the film their family is so much into this that results into fainting. But it is not
good to shed tears near the casket because as “what other people” say it is
bad for tears to fall on the casket. “They” also say that it is not proper for the
family members to thank those who have given them favors or donations for
the dead. And all donations that will be received must be spent for the dead
and any excess amount from it must not use by those who still lives. But
knowing that there are always no excess from this donations for a family
needs to spend even during burial, for snacks, rents, etc.
And there are still so much superstitions that seen in the film. We could say
that we Filipinos are really fond in this kind that able to affects our everyday
lives that even things somehow turns complicated which are not supposed
to.
As for this, Belief system has really something to do with these parts. It was
noticed that most of the practices of this Filipino family are based on
OBSERVATION, from what they have seen to others and able to apply and do
it with them. These also falls to COMPARISON that gives approval to others
whenever they seen these acted by other. But here SOCIAL INSTITUTION
specifically the family and religion greatly affects the beliefs of Filipinos.
Filipino Superstitions: Food and Gambling
Whenever there are wake, like in the film it was seen that there are practices
we really do as Filipino. First is providing food for every guests that will come
to the wake and also setting aside same food for the dead as part of
emotional grief. On the other hand, it was seen that we Filipinos are really
into gambling wherein there are times that even during wake, dead were
used to gain profit and in the film, the family were asked to extend the wake
just to earn the 20% of what will be earned in the gambling.
Filipino Values
Since the film focuses about Filipino, there are general values that were
clearly and directly seen and the others are indirectly. In the story we could
see “utang na loob” especially from the siblings of the family. And they also
have this “pakikisama”, like iin film that regardless the relationship between
the siblings of the family were not okay but still for their dad they still able to
do so even there are instances that they able to have small queries. Of
course if there are “pakikisama” there is “pagkamatiisiin” that regardless of
the pains we still endure such for the good of almost people involved. There
are also points that Filipino were also seen doing “pakikialam” even in lives
of others even without any consent. “Paggalang”, in parts of the children that
like Bobet who does “pagmamano” in older people. In character of Dolores,
the elder in the siblings it was seen to her the “tungkulin ng panganay sa
pamilya” like in the part where she grieves and mourns to his dad and asking
forgiveness for her acts and duties as sister. Also having “hiya” like when
Junee come up and mourns to his dad for whatever he has done and being
like that, gay, after all. Additional from this are “walang bigayan, walang
lamangang policy” that were seen in the siblings and there are so much
more.
Cultural Relativism Theory of Values
From what we have seen and through observation from the film, most of
their acts are dependent from “what others will say or what others says” or
just dependent from from their view ion considering what are should be done
or not based, good nor bad based on the agreement of others or the society
from these acts.
In the film, lines such as “”sabi nila” or “sabi daw nila” really proves that we
follow what we should have done based on the outside force of the family
and that is society.
FINAL SAY
State from the obvious, there was a lot of realization this films made us
realize. Yes, it was really in nature to Filipinos of having a lot of superstitions
and beliefs that even made confusions to us because of what we really need
to follow. But through this, we need to become more observant from this
things. What are we really need to consider all the time and what are some
that needs to be improved or will just be terminated. For it is time to
evaluate what we hold in our lives to believe. There are things that still no
reason why we are doing or not doing such but if we have reason so, why
would it for it already have its reason. And there is no room to question it
why. For the time that we will know who also stated these it might be clear
for us why we are doing so.