𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐄𝐍:
To honor the dead
(1970)

SOME TRADITIONS ARE NOT ALWAYS MEANT TO BE FORGOTTEN.

In a way, traditions are what rooted Corazon in her culture. It's one of the things that she had difficulties adjusting to when she came to America. Growing up, she embraced tradition as it weaved its way into her life and shaped her characteristics. It's difficult to live in a foreign land, build a life, and aid the humans that are in need while she can't do it for her own country and countrymen—one of her many regrets is not doing more for her motherland and leaving, even if it's for her own sake.

It felt like a betrayal of some sort.

Corazon always wanted to maintain touch with her roots. Still, she finds it difficult to practice her traditions while surrounded by vampires who don't share the same beliefs. She didn't want to make them uncomfortable, so she always did it alone. She knows deep down in herself that they wouldn't mind and would respect her practices—it's not the same, not like it used to be when she did it with her parents and siblings.

These are traditions that the Spanish have introduced over their three hundred and thirty-three years of colonization in the Philippines. They were the ones who embedded the teachings of Roman Catholicism and its rituals to the natives.

During their pre-Spanish colonialism, the native tribes worshiped deities and divinities. Of course, they had their own religion, practices, beliefs, customs, and rituals, but as any other colonizer, they erased any identity and replaced it with their own. The Spaniards ensured that the Filipinos practiced their laws, followed and believed in their religion, and wrote and read in their language. They had excessive control of every way of life and every order.

Consequences are followed if not.

But Corazon wasn't alive during the Spanish rule; she lived through the American colonization, but the traditions that the Spanish taught them are so deeply rooted in their lives that the only change they can emit is the modern Westernized way of civilization. The Americans introduced English as the official language, the education system was reformed, port, rail, and building programs were initiated, and urban planning reforms and ways of equal governance—they viewed the Philippines as needing grave and massive improvement in all aspects because of their uncivilized backgrounds.

How could they be civilized when, for three centuries, the Filipinos were treated inhumanely by exploiting, suppressing, discouraging, and abusing their rights as human beings?

Corazon might have been born into a high-class family, but when she learned of their history, she couldn't allow herself to ignore what colonizers had done to their country. She couldn't find it in herself to remain ignorant.

It's one of the reasons why Corazon finds herself so defensive with her own intellect. When she learned that the Spaniards justified their expansionist aggression by reasoning that the people they conquered were inferior, during their reign, the Filipinos were not considered Filipinos.

The order of the social hierarchy during the Spanish occupation was Peninsulars, the Spanish born in Spain. Insulares or Criollos are full-blooded Spaniards born in the Spanish colonies in Asia. Mestizo a person of half-Spanish descent in the Spanish-ruled areas. Lastly, the two bottom ranks of the social hierarchy, Indios, the native Filipinos of Malay and Chinese descent, and Negrito, the indigenous people including the Agta, Aeta, Ati, Ata, and Batak peoples, it's their classification before it was changed and designated into Filipinos.

That hierarchy resulted in the discrimination of races.

If asked where in the social hierarchy she is in, Corazon is a Tornatra. A mixed ancestry from Spanish, Filipino, and Chinese. She couldn't do anything about it, really; her grandparents from her Father's side are Spanish and Filipino. On her mother's side of the family, her grandparents are Filipino with Spanish and Chinese ancestry.

Even her name is derived from Spanish. Corazon's translation is heart, while Salvador came from Spanish origins. In a way, it couldn't be avoided; three centuries worth of colonization can erase any sense of true identity, and it shaped the way Filipinos live to what it is now.

One thing that heavily influences Filipinos' lives is religion. The Philippines is the only country in Asia where Catholicism predominates.

It's a delicate topic; she always said she didn't believe in god anymore, but she always gets pulled back. It's been years, but this time, she didn't argue with herself by questioning her own faith. She accepted it. It gave her a sense of peace. Being in battle with her faith is like battling with her own self. Acceptance gave her the peace and rest that she needed.

Suddenly, life didn't feel so distant anymore when she forgave herself for being so unkind to herself. When she finally freed herself from the world's burden, all that was left was resiliency, strength, and perseverance. She believed in god, but unlike before, she let it just that, a belief without the oppressive scriptures, toxic teachings of the bible, capitalist oppression, the hypocritical mindsets that use religion to hate, a belief that god loves everyone, regardless of sexuality, race, and religion, and for her case, supernatural entity.

A progressive way of thinking.

Besides, Corazon couldn't stand that some use their religion and faith in god as an excuse for being sexist, racist, or homophobic acts. The bible has been revised and edited to mankind's liking anyway. One doesn't even know if it is a word of god or a word of a sexist, racist, and homophobic man.

She can't tell Edward that anyway, or he'll rage about sinning again. He doesn't know the word boundaries, and she would rather not touch that topic again because it was a long process for them to get along.

Is it possible to be a vampire and have faith? Yes, because when humans need food and water to live, vampires need blood. To kill. It's not like they murder innocent humans. It's not their fault they were vampires either; just like humans, they wanted to survive—they were once humans, after all, and they had their own beliefs and customs even before they were turned into vampires.

Corazon accepted their way of life. She thought she had before, but she truly knows what it means to be immortal this time. Though she can't say the same for Edward but, oh well, some take time to accept reality more than others. It's why he's so brooding all the time. Corazon makes sure not to cross paths with him while he's mood swings—he can get really annoying.

Even for a mind reader, he is close-minded.

He also tended to undermine them to make himself feel better, but whatever worked out for him. Corazon wouldn't get in the way. As long as he doesn't get in her way, then they can live peacefully together while sharing a depth of understanding and respect of having a found family within each other.

To honor their dead. Undas, Dia Delos Todos Santos, Araw ng mga patay. It is one of many traditions they had inherited from the Spaniards through their Roman Catholic influences and infused with their own Filipino traditions. It is celebrated for two days. November 1, All Saints Day, celebrates all the saints and martyrs of the Catholic church, while on November 2, All Souls Day, araw ng mga Kaluluwa, commemorates the departed loved ones.

Corazon remembered going to the cemetery with her family, with food, candles, and flowers, cleaning the mausoleum where the graves of their grandparents were, and even visiting the graves of their extended relatives. They lit a candle and prayed the novena and rosary for their souls to rest and guide them to heaven. Sometimes, they stayed overnight while she and her family recalled their memories with their departed loved ones.

It's a celebration of life over death.

So when Corazon lit a candle in a white metal candle holder in hers and Jasper's room, the old and tarnished photographs of her grandparents that she had brought from home were displayed and arranged on a wooden table with a white lace tablecloth. She was surprised when her family stood behind her. She remembered they were once humans, too, with mortal relatives that passed on.

Esme placed a photograph of her late son on the table beside the photos of Corazon's grandparents. Rosalie did the same when she put a photo of her late parents. Emmett placed a necklace that belonged to his mother, who had just died of leukemia. Edward placed a photograph of his late mother. Alice put a photo of her sister, Cynthia—the one she had recently discovered that had passed with the help of Corazon and Rosalie. Carlisle made the sign of the cross, remembering every patient he lost.

Jasper remained behind his usual stoic demeanor, so Corazon walked towards him, standing beside him as their shoulders brushed. Corazon then intertwined his hand with hers, grasping his hand in assurance. Jasper visibly relaxed. Jasper looked at her, and she looked at him. She smiled, and he smiled, too. She rested her head against his shoulder, reminding Jasper that he wasn't alone.

They honored their dead while they cherished and remembered the ones who lived.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

━━ I am establishing a new rule that I won't update any chapters until the previous chapter I posted isn't receiving the amount of attention/hype (comments & votes) I would have preferred, so this time I know that ya'll actually want to read my updates. This might get a weekly update if I am satisfied with the feedback!

━━ I didn't update last week cause I'm taking a break until my classes start on August 19, I think? (i still have no idea who my professors are, so I don't think my classes will begin by then — college things) my summer has been super hectic and jam-packed with balancing work, mandatory summer classes, and writing, so I decided to take a break from writing because, obviously, work and academics will always be my main priorities. This is actually a scheduled update, so most likely, when you read this, my Wattpad is still offloaded from my phone, which stops my urge to open the app every few hours.

Also, informing everyone that when my classes start, I won't be able to update as much as I can because, honestly, my schedule for my first semester is shit. Blurring my subjects because IDK if my block mates read fics on WP, but I'm not taking any risks. But here is my schedule:

I have Saturday classes, I KNOW, and 7 AM classes until 7:50 PM on Monday and 7:30 PM on Tuesday, and on the remaining days, I have to squeeze in work. I know I don't have to explain myself, but from past experiences, this will limit the "When will you update comments" because this clearly shows that I have a life outside of Wattpad. Anyways. Thank you for reading! Xoxo.💋