11/11/2020
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A matter of location
Location played a huge role in the three’s decision in purchasing memorial lots.
Most also choose memorial parks where their relatives are already buried, like Cell and Marie, who bought lots in the parks where their parents are lain.
Most memorial parks have a perpetual care fund, which sustains the maintenance of the memorial lots for a long period of time.
Types of memorial lots
The Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board, regulator of cemeteries and memorials parks in the country, defines lawn areas as underground interment gardens with kept grass and flat marble niches.
Garden lots are similar but are distinguished by raised niche, while mausoleums are “large stately tombs,” which can carry multiple remains.
Some families choose to have their departed loved ones in one place and purchase family estates, private areas meant for family mausoleums.
The position of the memorial lots also depends on the type and size. Those in prime locations, like near the roads, trees and rivers, are preferred by buyers, but may cost more.
Budget considerations
Memorial lots can be costly.
Lawn lots alone go anywhere from P40,000 to P330,000, while garden lots go as high as P2,800,000. Family estates and mausoleums range from P1,000,000 to P20,160,000 and up.
The location of the memorial park also plays a role in the lot’s value. James shared that those within Metro Manila cost more than those in provincial areas. Golden Haven, for example, offers lawn lots in provinces from P40,000, and P300,000 in the city.
Prices also depend on the lot’s placement, as those near the roads are sold higher than the ones in the middle.
They can be expensive, but most developers allow for a year up to five years of installment payment, as in the case of Golden Haven.
Choosing the ‘one’
There are a couple of renowned memorials parks in the country. The pioneer Manila Memorial Park opened in 1964 and has parks in Sucat, Novaliches, Cavite, Cebu and Davao. It offers lawn lots, garden units and family estates across its 342 hectare of accumulated land.
In 1984, Golden Haven opened in Las Piñas City. It is the first “themed” memorial park and the only one listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange. It offers lawn lots for P40,000 (provincial) to P300,000 (city) and mausoleums and family estates from P1,000,000 onward.
It has parks in Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Zambales, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, Metro Manila, Batangas, Quezon, Bicol, Iloilo, Bacolod, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Zamboanga and General Santos City.
Albeit new, having only opened in 2001, The Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig City has become a recognized name in the industry. Its official website says its lawn lots are available for P224,000 to P336,000, garden lots from P2,240,000 to P2,800,000 and estate lots from P20,160,000.
Another is Forest Park in Caloocan City. The 22-hectare park primarily caters to lawn type lots priced from P83,000 to P90,000, according to its website.
There is also Loyola Memorial Chapels & Crematorium Inc., which has been arranging memorial services since October 1969. Its private memorial park, Loyola Memorial Park, has two parks located in Marikina and Sucat.
Banking on the idea of a Filipino-centric memorial park, Himlayang Pilipino in Quezon City is dotted with sculptures showcasing local historical and mythological figures and a native-inspired gazebo and chapel. The memorial park has lawn lots, memorial lots, family estates and memorial terraces.
The hundred-hectare Everest Memorial Park is owned by the Vasquez-Madrigal Group of Companies and managed by its subsidiary Peak Development Inc. in Muntinlupa City. It offers lawn lots, memorial court lots, presidential court lots and family estates.
The idea of planning ahead for the unforeseen may seem frightening to some, but Marie reassures that people need not be scared. Instead, they should be afraid of not being prepared.
Purchasing pre-need memorial lots can also serve as a wise investment that can reap greater values in the future.
James encourages others to plan ahead and think of investing in memorial lots, especially those who are still healthy and earning.
“At-need prices differ from those already purchased for a long time. It’s better you invest [in one] now than when it’s too late. It’s difficult to look for [a memorial lot] when you urgently need it,” he said also in Filipino.
