Simple wake. Photo Courtesy of St. Louie Funeral Chapel
GAPAN CITY – No wakes for departed beloved can exceed three days and two nights as one of measures enumerated in Executive Order No. 11-2020 of Mayor Emerson Pascual in preventing and combatting the dreaded Covid-19.
“Ang lamay po limitado na lang. Tatlong araw, dalawang gabi na lang kailangan ilibing ang inyong mga mahal sa buhay na mamamatay,” Pascual said as he, together with Vice Mayor Dodong Bautista and city police chief Lt. Col. Crizelda De Guzman, explained in a video the contents of his EO that was issued on March 18.
This, explained Pascual, is to avoid mass gathering which is prohibited under the enhanced community quarantine order.
Wakes in the province usually run for a week, especially when the deceased had relatives overseas.
Besides long wakes, residents of this city will also miss long-patronized carabao racing during village fiestas as well as rides in the government-run giant Ferris wheel in its public plaza.
“Kasama po sa executive order na ipinagbabawal po muna natin yung piyestang pambarangay, piyestang pambayan, kahit anong activities na may kinalaman sa nabaggit na pagtitipon na mayroong malalaking bilang ng tao, yung mass gathering na tinatawag katulad ng concert at karera ng kalabaw, “Pascual said. “Sarado na ang ating plaza, sarado na po ang night market natin.”
Establishments that were allowed to operate such as drugstores, public market, hospitals, grocery stores, medical clinics, and telecommunication supplies are mandated to check customers and clients with thermal scanners, he added.
