Each of us has different beliefs in life after death but the reality is, regardless of our beliefs and status in life, everyone eventually dies. It is part of our life’s journey on earth. We don’t know when that time will come for each of us but one can prepare the manner and the place in which one is buried in order to ease the burden from our loved ones.
Loving your Family Beyond your Lifetime
They say you only live once but the truth is, you live everyday and you only die once. Death used to be a taboo subject for Filipinos but that has now changed considering there’s no escaping it.
Death is more painful for the ones we leave behind because even if they’re dealing with the pain of losing a loved one, they will also have to deal with the mundane things that need to be done. You can at least ease a little of their burden by preparing for your eventual demise and taking care of the details of how you want your physical body to be taken care of.
Benefits of Funeral Pre-Planning
1. Provide comfort to your family
Without a plan, your family will have to make a decision while grieving. Having a plan eases the burden of having to make a decision and they will be comforted knowing they are honoring your wishes.
2. Cover your family financially
Funeral can be very costly. With pre-planning you are able to avail of lower costs by pre-paying some of the expenses.
3. Make decisions with your loved ones
Pre-planning allows you to have time to discuss what you want with your family. Let them know what matters to you so they will not have to second guess your wishes. Since visiting family niches during All Souls’ Day and All Saints’ Day are important part of family traditions, it is best to involve family members in the decision-making.
4. Choose the details of your service
Make decisions now about music, pallbearers, readers, and other part of the service. Plan things that are important to you, such as requesting a family gathering or a family tradition important to you.
5. Feel confident that you’re protecting your family
Pre-planning gives you the assurance that you’re caring for your family and that they will feel your love even when you’re no longer physically present. Take ownership of your final affairs so your family can focus on supporting and comforting each other.
Choosing a dignified funeral while one is still alive is not being morbid. It’s being realistic and it’s also a testament of your love for your family. Once you’ve taken care of that aspect, you can have peace of mind and live your life to the fullest everyday.
Debunking the Biggest Myth on Cremation
There is an increasing number of people favoring cremation over traditional burial process because of its advantages. However, there are still a lot of Filipinos who are not open to cremation because of this number one myth.
Myth: Cremation is prohibited by the Roman Catholic Church
Cremation has been practiced even during pre-historic times. However, many Catholic Filipinos are still not open to cremation believing that it is against their faith. The Vatican is not against cremation and in 2016, it released the instructions pertaining to the conservation of ashes in the case of cremation.
In circumstances when cremation is chosen because of sanitary, economic or social considerations, this choice must never violate the explicitly-stated or the reasonably inferable wishes of the deceased faithful. The Church raises no doctrinal objections to this practice, since cremation of the deceased’s body does not affect his or her soul, nor does it prevent God, in his omnipotence, from raising up the deceased body to new life. Thus cremation, in and of itself, objectively negates neither the Christian doctrine of the soul’s immortality nor that of the resurrection of the body.
What the Vatican is against is the scattering of ashes, dividing the ashes among families and it prohibits Catholics keeping the ashes at home. Read more about the Vatican’s guidelines here.
Advantages of Cremation Over Burial
Cremation is more economical
Cremation is cheaper than the traditional burial where the body is embalmed and you have to pay for a casket, memorial service and cemetery plot.
The infographic below clearly shows that it is much cheaper to opt for cremation instead of the traditional burial. Professional fees, casket, and burial lot for a traditional burial is more expensive than the cost of cremation services, columbarium and cost for 4-day viewing.
More Earth-Friendly
Many people consider cremation as more earth-friendly than burial where chemicals used to embalm the body may contaminate the soil. Burial also takes up more land space to bury a casket. Although the remains are burned, a crematory does not release emissions.
Offers Flexibility
In traditional funeral, you have a timeframe to meet for burial while in cremation you can arrange the memorial service at a later and convenient date. This enable friends and family members who live far from the deceased to attend the memorial service.
Offers More Options for Final Resting Place
Although the Vatican does not allow the ashes to be kept at home, if the family has an existing cemetery plot, they may opt to place the urn there instead of paying for a columbarium.
Celebrating Life in Style with Teresa Development Corporation
Teresa Development Corporation (TDC) pioneered the memorial park service in Bacolod with the development of Bacolod Memorial Park more than 50 years ago. The Bacolod Memorial Park was the first memorial park outside of Manila. From its humble beginning, TDC has developed other brands of memorial services namely, Acropolis Gardens and Rose Lawns Memorial Park.
Before the memorial park was introduced by TDC in Negros Occidental, Negrenses are known to have elaborate mausoleums even in public cemeteries. Keeping up with the Negrenses love for life and celebrating life in style, TDC will once again pioneer a landmark project in Bacolod.
We Filipinos have a custom of visiting our dearly departed at cemeteries during All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day and one thing you’ll notice is that you can hardly see anyone crying. What you will see are families getting together, remembering and celebrating the lives of their loved ones. It’s a family reunion tradition so those who live away from home always find time to visit.
That is what Teresa Development Corporation (TDC) CEO, Mr. Ramon C. Lacson, Jr. has in mind when he conceptualized the Christ the Redeemer Columbarium Complex. It will be a place where families come together to celebrate in style the life of their loved ones who passed away.
Key Features of Christ the Redeemer Columbarium Complex
The Christ the Redeemer Columbarium Complex is another pioneering project of Teresa Development Corporation which is envisioned to be an architectural masterpiece in Bacolod.
The columbarium complex is located on a 2-hectare area inside Rose Lawns Memorial Park in Brgy. Bata, Bacolod City. Upon completion of the first cluster in 2020, it will be able to house 6,000 urns, but the entire facility when completed with be able to accommodate more than 40,000.
Below are the Key Features of the Christ the Redeemer Columbarium
Lobby of Remembrance – consist of a high glass ceiling lobby which gives you an ambiance of peace and serenity while you feel the warmth of sunshine from above.
The Family Suite – This is the more exclusive and private part of the complex. The Family Suite is air-conditioned and features a family room, restroom and kitchenette with a magnificent view of the park and garden. The family is free to design the interior of the suite to suit their taste.
Pool of Providence – the soothing sound of running water serves as a “sanctuary of solace” where the family and friends of the departed can sit and reminisce the life of their loved ones who just passed away.
The Amethyst – This is the first cluster in the columbarium complex. This cluster can house up to 6,000 vaults where each vault is covered with a clear face-plate and can secure up to 6 standard sized urns.
Chapels or Reception Halls – the multi-purpose chapels can be used to hold Holy Mass, for viewing purposes and as reception hall.
Other Services offered by Teresa Development Corporation are simple direct cremation to funeral services complete with viewing, funeral, memorial or inurnment and reception services.
For more information on Christ the Redeemer Columbarium Complex, you may contact the following:
TERESA DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Galo Street. Bacolod City, Negros Occidental
Tel. No. (034) 434-5555
Official Facebook Page: TDC Funeral Services
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