Banned by parish priest, La Muerte in Argao still joins Good Friday procession

In the heritage town of Argao’s Good Friday procession, the controversial La Muerte image, a skeletal reminder of mortality, faces church opposition while drawing a devoted following

CEBU, Philippines – In Good Friday processions in the southern Cebu heritage town of Argao, a curious image would join the parade of religious icons that are part of Christ’s passion.

The La Muerte or The Death is a skeleton made of ivory draped in cloth, crowned, and with a scythe. The family that owns the image said it has always been the lead carroza in Good Friday processions in the past.

La Muerte is a reminder of human mortality, said Monsignor Elias Matarlo, an Argao native who now runs a monastery in the town of Barili.

Matarlo told Rappler in an interview on Wednesday that the La Muerte is a memento mori device, a reminder that we will all die. It also serves as a reminder on how our view of death changed from being the end to being the start of eternal life with Jesus Christ’s resurrection.

“Reminder ra man na ang tuyo ana. Unya naa na may tuo-tuo. Naa kunoy milagro,” Matarlo said. (It’s only a reminder. But people started having mistaken beliefs, that the image performed miracles).

At the house of Gwendolyn Aguilar Montañez, the adults in the household were busy preparing the image for this afternoon’s procession Friday noon. Montañez is the current custodian of the image. She claimed the image is hundreds of years old and belonged to a friar who was their great grandfather several times over.

Roberto Rubia Alcazar, 82, said he has been helping prepare the La Muerte and joining the procession since 1986. He said he takes charge of attaching the skull when the image is assembled. Alcazar said they disassemble the image and place it in a box after the procession for its security. 

Alcazar and Montañez said that La Muerte is also the “Anghel sa Kamatayon” or Angel of Death. Argao is under the patronage of San Miguel the Archangel, who is known in some Catholic teachings  as the “Angel of Death.”

Alcazar expressed displeasure at the decision by Argao parish priest Father Antonio Zamora Jr to bar the La Muerte from the church over allegations they are a cult. Alcazar denied the accusation.

In the afternoon, however, a group of devotees led by Dance Alvarez visited the house to check on the La Muerte, which they address as Santa Muerte. Alvarez say their group worships the image. Alvarez claimed to Rappler that he is a spiritualist and a psychic and communicates with Santa Muerte, whom they credit for miracles and blessings.

Not allowed in the church compound, the La Muerte carroza was inserted into the procession, positioned at the head of the parade. There was a long line of parishioners that followed it, although not as long as those that followed the regular images.

Zamora, in an interview with Rappler Wednesday, said the La Muerte is no longer needed to remind people of mortality. The Santo Entierro  or Holy Burial suffices, he said.

Alcazar said he looks forward to August, when priests in the Archdiocese of Cebu will be given new assignments. He hopes the new priest assigned to Argao will be more welcoming. – Rappler.com