DYING in the Philippines isn’t cheap, especially if one is unprepared.
Renato Dychangco, president of the Philippine Mortuary Association, said that while cremation is gaining popularity, majority of the Filipinos still opt for the traditional wake and burial services, mainly because the country is still predominantly Catholic.
The Roman Catholic Church prefers burial over cremation.
But with the growing popularity of cremation in recent times, the Vatican has allowed priests to officiate cremation services and has issued guidelines barring the scattering of ashes in land, air, water or anywhere else.
But Dychangco, who owns Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes, said whether the body is buried six feet under or cremated, Filipinos still prefer to pay their final respects for their departed loved ones by viewing.
Based on their observations though, they rarely see cases of immediate cremation.
Dychangco said regardless of which practice, both come with high price tags, depending on the kind of funeral service, duration of the wake and other services.
“Death isn’t only emotionally straining, it is also financially draining if you don’t prepare for it,” he said.
A decent traditional wake of three to five days and burial services may cost at least P50,000. If a family opts for cremation, it may cost them some P25,000 to P30,000. This, however, is exclusive of the viewing and burial services.
Dychangco clarified that the price may vary because it would depend on what the family wants. Some may use smaller chapels for viewing, or may buy cheaper coffins, among other ways to make costs a bit manageable.
The cremation process takes two to two and a half hours. But Dychangco said there are already cremation facilities powered with advanced technology that shortens the cremation process to 30 minutes with the use of hydrogen.
This service is already being offered in Manila although this technology comes at a higher rate.
There are about 14 funeral parlors in Cebu, three of which are already offering cremation while the rest stick to the traditional services.
The practice of placing the cremation urn in a columbarium is also a growing trend in the Philippines, especially for big cities where land in the city center is already scarce.
Columbary units also differ in rates. According to Dychangco, those within eye-level cost more than those units located on the higher or lower levels.
For a city like Cebu, Dychangco said many still opt to place the cremation urn in cemeteries. He noted that Cebu still has plenty of land area where both could still co-exist.
But, despite the high cost of dying, there is one trait that is inherent among Filipinos.
“We extend the similar care to our departed loved ones even until their last moment on earth. We still strive to give them the burial they deserve, no matter what,” said Dychangco.