On the day of the funeral, the casket is either loaded into a hearse or carried by family members to the burial site. On the evening that the loved one has been buried, the family holds prayers in a tradition that continues for nine nights–and on that final night, family and friends gather together for a formal, sit-down meal. According to Filipino beliefs, the ceremonial dinner has specific importance because the loved one’s soul leaves this world and moves onto the afterlife on the ninth day after burial. After that, the bereavement period for friends and family extends for a full year in which the Filipino family who has lost a loved one will not host any personal or family celebrations. It’s another way to pay homage to those who’ve passed away; a means of upholding respect for the deceased, whose surviving family members work through the grieving process -