AN EMPTY CHAPEL by Abigail M. Adriatico
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n all the wakes I had been to, there were always a lot of people. The elderly usually took the seats near the casket. The younger cousins would stay near the table where the food was. Mothers would talk with each other, unconsciously easing the room’s somber mood. Our culture has allowed funeral wakes to serve as something that brings families together. After all, it is the kind of tradition that makes the process of grieving easier to bear. Being supported by loved ones during these grievous times will always be helpful to the bereaved. However, on the first day of my grandfather’s wake, the chapel was empty. The funeral invitation had not been made yet. Since my grandfather lived in the US, his ashes were brought to the country by my aunt. With quarantine protocols set at the time, she had to be isolated for a few days when she came back. We had no choice but to wait. When she got out, she insisted that I make the invitation, knowing that my college program involved graphic design. Given the time constraint, she suggested scouring the internet for templates HINTAYAN
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