Kalooyi an Kalag ni Pulano: Lived Experiences of Mamaratbat in Tacloban`s Yolanda Death Commemorations

Abstract

This study explored the lived experiences of mamaratbat elderly women prayer leaders during the annual death anniversary commemorations of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in Tacloban City. Deeply rooted in Waray culture and Catholic tradition, the mamaratbat play a crucial spiritual and cultural role by leading prayers in Latin and Waray-Waray for the dead. Despite their central role in communal mourning and healing, their experiences have remained largely undocumented, particularly in the context of large-scale disaster remembrance. Employing a transcendental phenomenological research design, the study engaged ten elderly mamaratbat through in-depth, semi-structured interviews. The research examined their spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical preparation; the challenges they encounter; their emotional reflections during Yolanda anniversaries; and their perceptions regarding the relevance and future of their tradition. Data were analyzed thematically and guided by theories of phenomenology, emotional labor, spiritual coping, cultural transmission, embodied cognition, and community resilience. Findings revealed that leading prayers during Yolanda death anniversaries reawakens painful memories of loss while simultaneously fostering shared grief, compassion, and deep spiritual connection with bereaved families. Despite physical fatigue, emotional heaviness, and social pressures, the mamaratbat continue to serve with faith, hope, and a strong sense of purpose. Their role extends beyond ritual performance, positioning them as cultural bearers, emotional anchors, and agents of communal healing. The study underscores the indispensable role of mamaratbat in sustaining cultural memory, spiritual resilience, and collective healing in post-disaster Tacloban City. It contributes to cultural studies, disaster research, and gendered perspectives on spiritual leadership, emphasizing the need for recognition, support, and intergenerational transmission of this sacred tradition.