“Pagpag” : A Filipino Superstitious Belief”

Have you recently experienced attending a funeral wake of a person – whether a friend, a loved one or an acquaintance? Do you practice this superstitious belief in making a stop over at a certain place after going to a wake? Or do you just go directly home?

“Pagpag” or “shaking off dust” is a superstitious belief most people (especially us Filipinos) would observe especially when visiting a funeral. This is often done by visiting a place like mall, convenience store or a gas station instead of heading home directly so as to confuse any bad spirits who are trying to make their way home with you or any guest. (Source: “A beginner’s guide to Filipino superstitions: Funeral edition” ; https://www.nationthailand.com/world/asean/40030183 )

Another superstitious belief aside from “pagpag” most commonly observed is that guests are not allowed to take home any food served at the funeral wake. (Source: “40 Filipino Superstitions that You Need to Know during Funerals and Wakes” ; https://flowerpatchdelivery.com/40-filipino-superstitions-funerals-and-wakes/)

Just a few days ago (June 30 – Monday), I almost committed this mistake of not stopping by a place after attending a funeral wake of my former high school teacher and nearly decided to go directly home (due to the fact that it’s raining hard and I was already soaking wet and just wanted to change into my home clothes. Luckily, I brought an extra shirt with me before leaving home and heading straight to the venue of the wake.