According to an old saying, death and taxes are the only certainties in life. As such, for "total death care provider" Forest Lake, it pays for Filipinos to have early end-of-life planning.
Being prepared for death by investing in a memorial lot is a responsible financial decision a person can make, according to Forest Lake president Alfred Xerez-Burgos Jr.
Cemeteries, memorial parks, and columbariums are expected to teem with visitors today, All Saints' Day, and tomorrow, All Souls' Day, as the living remember and pay their respects to their dearly departed.
Investing in after-life care does not only benefit the dead, but more so the living, according to the company.
"This is why Forest Lake, the Philippines' largest total death care provider, makes it a point to ease the pain of loss by providing diverse memorial service solutions that cater to different needs and preferences," Xerez-Burgos said on Tuesday.
He said that among the special services Forest Lake offers is Libing (burial). Anywhere, a flexible memorial plan that adapts to one's changing circumstances by allowing a plan holder to be buried in any lot in any Forest Lake Park in the country.
There's also "Libreng Burol," or free wake hosting, which guarantees lot owners complimentary body retrieval, embalming, casketing, and chapel viewing services, assuring clients of a dignified burial.
Profit to be made
Xerez-Burgos said memorial lot values tend to appreciate over time.
"The earlier you invest in a memorial lot, the higher are your chances of making a large profit over the years, as the value of this type of asset does not easily depreciate," he said.
Also, memorial lots can diversify your investment portfolio if you're a beginner investor. "This way, you can limit your risks, which are often associated with having only a single type of asset to your name, while ensuring investment returns," he added.
One's purchasing power also tends to decrease over time due to inflation, Xerez-Burgos said. "But with the historically steady appreciation of real estate prices — including memorial lots — it can act as a hedge against inflation," he explained.
"This kind of investment is also part of legacy planning. A memorial lot is a valuable financial asset in your name that can help future generations in need. Apart from financial gains, memorial lot investments also provide high emotional value," the Forest Lake executive said.
"Coping with loss sometimes includes having to search for an available lot with limited time. But if you had already invested in your own memorial lot early on, this gives peace of mind and a sense of belonging to your loved ones left behind," he said.
Filipinos catch up on plans
For St. Peter Life Plans, gone are the days when Filipinos cared little about dying as many have caught on to the innovative "pre-paid" death plans to ease the financial burden on those they leave behind.
Under St. Peter Life Plans' pre-paid scheme, prices start at P53,000 and could go as high as P157,000. All the plans include a wooden casket with a single glass cover, an elegant interior and handles.
The plans are payable in five years, in annual, semi-annual, quarterly, or monthly payments. A 10-percent discount is given for spot cash payments.
At Arlington Memorial Chapel, there are seven packages to choose from, with the cheapest at P239,200, inclusive of "full service" and a 20-gauge steel casket with a stationary bar.
Premium package
The top premium package at Arlington would set back a plan owner P2,399,200 and comes with an "imported solid bronze casket with gold-plated handles from the United States."
Plan holders have the option of being buried in the ground or cremated, and life plan companies have offers to match one's financial capability.
Arlington's Beloved Package costs P399,200, inclusive of an imported urn and imported "ceremonial" casket for five days of viewing before cremation. The cheapest is the Infinity Package at P159,200, with an imported urn and a casket for three viewing days.
Cremation services
At St. Peter's, crematorium services range from P66,000 to P99,000.
But since the Church frowns on urns being kept at home, an "inurnment" may cost, like at Loyola Memorial Chapel in Quezon City, from P77,000 to P154,000 depending on which of the five tiers the urn will be placed in.
