A resident of Butuan City was forced to burn the remains of his son because the former didn’t have enough money to pay for a wake and burial, a local media reported today.
Rolando Casipong torched his son Romy Casipong’s remains with the help of his wife, according to his two other children who reported the incident to the authorities. Rolando’s two other children decided not to press charges against their father because of his explanation.
Romy died at the age of 24 due to an unidentified illness, the news program Unang Balita reported.
Filipino tradition dictates that a wake (lamay) should be held for several days before the dead are buried or cremated. Friends and family can view the dead person’s body during a lamay, then gamble and catch up with each other to pass the time. A lamay is somewhat similar to family reunions and could cost a small fortune because guests need to be fed and entertained.
Update: This article has been updated to reflect the correct translation for wake, which is “lamay.”
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