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It seems that the three typical milestones in Philippine social life known as “KBL” (“kasal”, “binyag”, “libing” or wedding, baptism, burial) are poised to reduce, not thanks to the pandemic.
Wedding invitations will be much shorter after the Archdiocese of Manila banned couples getting married this year from having an entourage once the blockade and restrictions on religious ceremonies are lowered to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.
Bishop Broderick Pabillo said that after the government allows the resumption of religious services, only “simple weddings” will be held in churches under the jurisdiction of the archdiocese of Manila to ensure that rite-goers are safe from the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
This means that only the bride and groom, a group of sponsors, and their immediate family can witness the ceremony.
“In the meantime, there will be no entourage,” said Pabillo, the apostolic administrator of Manila.
Typically, a wedding entourage consists of at least three pairs of primary and secondary sponsors, one bridesmaid and groomsman, three pairs of bridesmaids and groomsmen, three bearers (ring, coin, and bible) and girls from the flowers.
“Temporary” restrictions
In the Philippines, even a small wedding can have 100 guests, which is a large gathering prohibited under the guidelines of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Pabillo said this restriction was only “temporary”, given the “extraordinary situation” due to the threat of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes severe respiratory disease. He assured the public that this would be relaxed as soon as the situation allowed.
“The situation is so fluid that we anticipate that there will be other guidelines that [we’ll] continue when the situation changes or when there are other directives that will come from the government or the hierarchy of the Church, “he said.
Small batches
Similarly for baptisms, the prelate said that only the child’s parents and a couple of godparents can attend. Typically, there would be at least three pairs of godparents.
Pabillo said that if many children are scheduled to be baptized together, this should be done in small batches and preferably on weekdays to avoid congestion during Sunday christenings.
He added that priests must still observe the Church’s guidelines of using one cotton per child to apply sacred oils.
For funerals, only the immediate family of the deceased within the church would be allowed to hear the mass. If there had been a mass during the vigil, Pabillo said the family should no longer bring their dead to church.
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