Boracay may be known for its pristine beaches and holiday celebrations, but beneath the beach parties lies a deeper history shaped by the traditions of its early inhabitants. The Ati, the Indigenous People of Boracay, already had their own traditions for burying their dead.
In a 2025 hyperlocal report by RMN’s Zhander Cayabyab, elders of the Ati community recalled that their ancestors traditionally buried their deceased loved ones soon after death, without embalming. The bodies were covered with cloth and buried inside caves, underground, or high in trees.They would also utter words expressing their hopes that their deceased loved ones would help them carry their burdens.
When Christianity spread, some of the Ati’s traditional beliefs blended with newer customs. Today, members of the Ati community also observe Undas by visiting cemeteries and bringing food offerings to their departed loved ones.
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