Funerals and memorial services allow family members, friends, and loved ones to honor the deceased while offering comfort and support to each other. It can be tough to prepare for one, since these events often happen unplanned. In the Philippines, it is often taboo to prepare for funeral ceremonies before one's death.
A cremation and funeral ceremony may cost between P58,300 and P705,000, while a funeral service and burial may cost up to P2,075,000. While Executive Order No. 33 of 2017 has increased funeral benefits to a maximum of P30,000 and P40,000 for GSIS and SSS members, the cash benefit will still be not enough for a proper send-off. This is where planning for a funeral can be helpful.
Planning in advance
Pre-organize a funeral in the Philippines can be tough; from deciding where one wants to be buried to figuring out how long the wake will happen, a few things should be considered. If you don't have a plan, your family will be hit with astronomical costs. One thing to ponder about: is your family financially prepared to meet all of these expenses if you pass away?
Below are some things to consider in planning a funeral.
- Insurance. One of the best decisions you can make in life is to get insured. A beneficiary is required for the insurance, who can also be the person responsible for delegating the funeral duties.
- Deciding between burial and cremation. This is one of the crucial decisions that you will make. Most memorial or pre-need life plans provide a free coffin of choice. They also offer a complimentary urn for those who opt for cremation.
- The duration of the wake. Determine how long you want the wake to last. The viewing service typically lasts three days, though it might take longer if a family member lives overseas. It's worth noting that the length of the viewing session easily contributes to the total cost of the funeral ceremony. Filipinos have 24-hour wakes that usually last for days, so allocate money for visitors' food and drinks.
- Transportation costs. Funeral services will offer a hearse, but it may be necessary to rent extra automobiles for the visitors. Even though Filipinos typically walk for the funeral procession, you may need to fund an automobile rental for the ride from the church to the burial site.
Now that you know some of the ways you can ease the financial burden that death can bring to your loved ones, it is also crucial to know what to do when one of your family or friends dies.
Steps in arranging a funeral
Notify other people.
Local authorities should be alerted when someone dies unattended or due to unclear reasons. To legally proclaim the death, the presence of the attending physician or a medical examiner is required. This is usually organized by staff if the person died in a hospital or healthcare facility. If you believe the deceased had a pre-arranged funeral arrangement, you must first contact family members or a legal agent.
If a funeral plan was made, it should guide you on how to proceed with funeral preparations. A Funeral Director can also assist you in arranging the transportation of the body from the location of death to a funeral home. If no preparation has been done, you can contact a local funeral home, cremation business, or other service providers.
Secure a death certificate.
This is the most important document to get before the funeral ceremony and burial. Funeral service providers require it before signing a memorial service contract. It is necessary for the death to be officially recorded by the local civil registrar. The death certificate is also a prerequisite for submitting death benefit claims with the Social Security System (SSS). Here are the requirements, conditions, and benefits from SSS with regards to funeral benefit claims.
As for GSIS members, you may also visit the website to know the requirements, benefits, and other necessary details to claim this assistance. The death certificate is also required for transactions involving the deceased's bank accounts.
Choose between a cremation or burial.
In the Philippines, choosing to bury the dead is more common than cremation. Still, the number of crematoriums in Metro Manila and other major cities is steadily growing. Before a cremation can take place, permission from the City Health Office must be obtained.
Cremation is less expensive. If you're on a tight budget, selecting this option over traditional funerals will let you focus on other costs. When all the expenditures are summed up, a full-service funeral with cremation may be approximately half the cost of the same ceremony with a typical burial. A cremation service costs P70,000 to almost P100,000, including the urn, cremation, and viewing service.
Decide on a burial site.
If you decide to go for a burial site, the funeral home's site must be accessible for the family, guests, and public transit. Another thing to consider is if the chapel has facilities accessible in the location where you wish to hold the wake. In the Philippines, there are three options for a burial site: apartment tombs, in-ground burial, and mausoleums.
Apartment tombs
There are so-called apartment tombs in the country in which niches are stacked on top of another. Some niches may reach up to 4-5 "floors" which is why it is called an apartment tomb. These are among the budget-friendly options for burying a loved one. Depending on the cemetery and the placement of the tomb, apartment tombs' rental fees can range from Php 600 to Php 1000 a year.
At the Manila North Cemetery, a gravesite can be rented for five years. At the time of writing, the rent fee is Php 600. It includes an apartment-style niche and a tombstone. The graves are available in a variety of colors, according to the family's preferences.
In-ground Burial
In-ground Burial is the interment of the deceased underneath a lawn lot. It is the most conventional funeral interment form, usually surrounded with green Bermuda grass and flat ground markings, often called a tombstone. Golden Haven Memorial Parks offers in-ground burial garden lots that start at Php 360,000 up to Php 1,400,000. There are also more affordable options in other cemeteries which cost an average of Php 35,000.
Mausoleums
With above-ground burial, the deceased is buried in a mausoleum structure, also called a family estate. This is a place where people can be buried both beneath and aboveground. It has an open or closed memorial structure that may accommodate as many interments as possible, as long as they fit within its confines. A minimum of ₱1,000,000 should be allotted if you want to lay rest in a mausoleum.
During the funeral
As for the event itself, there are several factors to consider. These include the following:
Attire
People are usually asked to come in formal attire as a sign of respect. But besides the guests, you also have to account for the deceased’s clothes. Once you have a funeral service provider, they will give you options on what the deceased should wear. It is common for the deceased to be buried in formal wear, but family members may also choose to dress them in their favorite clothes.
Scheduling
In scheduling the date of the funeral rites, make sure to clear everything out with family members and friends. Some relatives might need time to arrive home from overseas. It helps to plan the date with others to ensure that important people can attend.
Food
The people attending the burial rites should also have snacks. It is crucial to ensure that guests feel comfortable throughout the ceremony. Some Filipinos hire caterers, although providing simple snacks are also a common practice.
Traditions
The burial rites act as a closing chapter for the deceased’s loved ones. This occasion is when “saying goodbye” becomes a reality. As a Catholic country, it is common in the Philippines to have a priest bless the deceased. They may also hold a mass. A bereaved family member, friend, or significant other may also be tasked to provide a eulogy.
Online Funerals
During the time of the COVID-19 pandemic where mass gatherings are not permitted, there are services that aim to connect families together for memorial services. One example is St. Peter’s eLibing, an online memorialization service available to Filipinos.
It is a complimentary service specially developed for the benefit of family and friends who live and work anywhere in the Philippines, as well as those who live and work abroad who could not come home but wish to be with their loved ones during the final rites and interment.
Sources
The first CALL: Who to call when someone dies. Funeralwise. (2021, January 14). https://www.funeralwise.com/plan/how_to/firstcall/.
Raymond, C. (2020, February 16). How to plan a funeral or memorial service. Verywell Health. https://www.verywellhealth.com/how-to-plan-a-funeral-or-memorial-service-3897584.
Grief resources. St. Peter. (n.d.). https://stpeter.com.ph/grief/deathcare-101-funeral-checklist-what-to-do-in-case-of-a-death-in-the-family.
News and articles. Memorial plan do's and don'ts | Golden Future Life Plans, Inc. (n.d.). https://www.goldenfuture.com.ph/news-and-articles/memorial-plan-dos-and-donts/.
Filipino funeral TRADITIONS. Cypress Lawn. (2020, August 19). https://www.cypresslawn.com/blog/filipino-funeral-traditions/.
Sudden rise of crematorium in the philippines amidst the pandemic. Golden Haven Memorial Parks. (2021, April 29). https://www.goldenhaven.com.ph/services/the-sudden-rise-of-crematorium-in-the-philippines-amidst-the-pandemic/.
