Oas, Albay — As Filipinos observe All Saints' and All Souls' Days with rows of austere, monochrome tombs, one artist's colorful grave art disrupts the conventional scenery at a Catholic cemetery in Oas, Albay. Jafryl Refran, 42, is the artist behind an unconventional tradition: painting tombs with the favorite brand logos of the deceased. Specifically, Refran has been commissioned annually since 2016 by the Relleve family to honor the memory of their father, Jose Relleve, who passed away in 2011.
According to a news release by Philippines News Agency, this year's artwork features the Tancho pomade brand, a departure from previous paintings which showcased more familiar logos such as Black Label Johnnie Walker, Lacoste, and Jollibee. Angelle Relleve, daughter of the deceased, said the Tancho-inspired grave pays a comical tribute to her father's fondness for the pomade, which he used to style his hair in a manner reminiscent of Dr. Jose Rizal. Refran revealed that he was initially unfamiliar with the Tancho brand but successfully executed the artwork based on a photo provided by the Relleve family. The painting took two days to complete due to unpredictable weather conditions.
The practice of "grave branding," as Refran calls it, was accidental. Accustomed to painting murals and logos for schools as a local artist in Matacon, Polangui, Albay, Refran found the idea of using tombs as a canvas both surprising and eventually meaningful. Refran, who lost his four-year-old son in July due to heart complications, expressed the desire to continue the tradition by painting his son's tomb with his favorite cartoon characters.
Nestor Castro, a renowned anthropologist, stated that this unique way of commemorating the dead is "deeply rooted in Philippine culture." He noted that in precolonial times, Filipinos buried their deceased alongside personal belongings, pointing to ancestor worship. Over time, this practice has evolved, much like the grave branding executed by Refran.
Angelle Relleve maintains that the grave branding ritual is a way for her family to remember their father, known for his humor and non-conformity, in a manner that would have delighted him. The tradition has garnered both praise and criticism over the years but remains a distinctive method to keep the memory of the departed alive in a society often preoccupied with the present.