grim reaper's curse

Ano nga ba ang mangyayari pagkatapos mong mamatay? Where do you go? May maghihintay ba sayo para ituro kung saan papunta o do you just magically appear in front of the gates of heaven or hell? Every culture has a different afterlife situation, even for Maharlika.

- Jhoanna Christine B. Robles

The concept of heaven and hell in Maharlika

[1] With Kalikasan as the principal deity of Maharlika, Maharlikan heaven is called Paraiso. Upon death, the innocent souls of the departed become wisps–a tiny ball of light–that assists Kalikasan in nurturing the country’s natural resources. These souls can manifest into the earthly realm as fireflies.

[2] In Maharlikan hell is where the sinners face the wrath of Kalikasan. Their souls are either thrown inside the active volcanoes scattered throughout the country or in the center of the devastating typhoons that strike Maharlika.

Three (3) souls that the Binaybayon people acknowledge.

[1] Innocent souls: individuals who passed away with minimal to no sins; 

[2] Sinners: individuals who have committed various wrongs against people, the environment, or their nation during their lives; 

[3] Malevolent spirits: these are sinners who have escaped their Taga-sundo. They roam around in the earthly realm, creating a sense of unease known as “masamang hangin,” often used as a term when someone feels that there is something wrong.

The role of a Taga-sundo

[1] The moment your soul leaves your body, a human-like figure appears right in front of you, reading your name and time of death from a piece of paper. A Taga-sundo. The Taga-sundo are Kalikasan’s appointed grim reaper; their duty is to collect the souls of those who have departed which allows them to pass on to the afterlife.

[2] Sins committed to thyself, such as suicide, is considered a great sin in Maharlika. Therefore Kalikasan denies them passage to the afterlife and appoints them to become a Taga-sundo. But before becoming one, those who are appointed to the position will have the memories of their past lives and sins erased, including their former names. 

[3] The Taga-sundo possess the ability to interact with the living, allowing them to somehow still live a ‘normal life’. They are equipped with a special ring that enables them to become invisible, allowing them to work in secret, as intended.

On reincarnation

[1] Reincarnation is possible in the afterlife in Maharlika. It is believed that the ones whose lives were cut short, along with the ones who lived a noble life are granted reincarnation. 

[2] A soul may undergo reincarnation up to three times and has the option to either retain memories of their previous lives or forget all of them.

[3] The reincarnated souls cannot dictate their new existence. Instead, they might find themselves taking the form of a human or an animal.

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